May 17 mention for Najib’s RM27 million money-laundering case

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court yesterday fixed May 17 for mention of the case of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on three money-laundering charges involving RM27 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRC) funds five years ago.

High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan f ixed the date after case management before him in the presence of Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Ishak Mohd Yusoff and lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is representing Najib, 66.

Ishak said both parties were involved in another case until May 10.

“My side would like to ask for another date because we are tied down with the SRC ( Najib) trial until May 10,” he said.

Najib is being tried on three charges of criminal breach of trust, one charge of abuse of power, and three charges of money laundering involving SRC International funds of RM42 mil lion before High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.

Under the three charges mentioned yesterday, Najib is alleged to have been involved in money laundering by receiving money totalling RM27 million, which are proceeds from unlawful activity, in three AmPrivate Banking accounts belonging to him.

Najib is alleged to have committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Bangunan AmBank Group, No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan, on July 8, 2014, under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million or jail not exceeding five years or both on conviction.

On Feb 8 this year, Najib was charged in the Sessions Court here on the three charges but the case was transferred to the High Court on an application by the prosecution.