Hafarizam’s money laundering case fixed for hearing on Oct 22
KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here yesterday fixed four days from Oct 22 to hear the money laundering charges, involving RM15 million, framed against Umno legal adviser Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun.
Judge Azman Ahmad fixed the date when the case came up for mention in the presence of Deputy Public Prosecutor Ashrof Adrin Kamarul and lawyer Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican, representing Mohd Hafarizam, 47.
The dates for the hearing are Oct 22 and Nov 11 to 13, during which 15 witnesses are expected to testify.
Earlier, Hasnal Rezua informed the court that the defence would file an application this Friday to obtain details not contained in the charge sheet.
This, he said, followed a hearing on the alleged misappropriation of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
During the hearing of the case last week, a witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) senior assistant commissioner (Special Operations Division) Rosli Husain revealed that RM642 from the Riyadh Finance Ministry and Prince Faisal Turki were transferred into Najib’s personal bank accounts, he said adding that the information was relevant for client’s case.
“We will file an application for material details not contained in the charge sheet ... details such as the source of the cheque received by my client,” he added.
Ashrof Adrin did not object to it.
Azman then set Sept 23 to hear the application and Oct 3 for decision.
On Feb 21 this year, Mohd Hafarizam pleaded not guilty to two money laundering charges, involving RM15 million in cheques from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which were deposited into his law firm’s bank account.
On the first count, he was alleged to have deposited two cheques for a total of RM11.5 million from Najib into the bank account of his legal firm, Messrs. Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak (HWAM), on April 16 and Nov 4, 2014.
Mohd Hafarizam was also charged with committing a similar offence, by depositing a cheque for RM3.5 million from Najib into the same account on Feb 12, 2015.
Both the offences were allegedly committed at the CIMB branch at the Putra World Trade Centre here. — Bernama SIBU: A 36-year-old man was yesterday sentenced by the Magistrate’s Court here to three years’ jail plus 13 strokes of the whip for cheating.
Wallace Putang Nyalau pleaded guilty to all the 13 charges framed against him.
He was charged with cheating GEORGE TOWN: A director in the Paya Terubong paired road project at Jalan Bukit Kukus where a landslide occurred last October killing nine workers claimed trial in the Sessions Court here yesterday.
Lai Sin Kian, 58, stands accused as an employer of failing to ensure that a qualified engineer was at the site to oversee backfill works that allegedly triggered a fatal landslide on Oct 19, 2018 at 1.56pm until 6pm.
He faces a maximum fine of RM50,000 or up to two years imprisonment, or both, upon eight victims in and around Sibu district by offering house renovation and window grille installation services this month.
After receiving the money from the victims, he did not carry out the works he promised.
The total amount of money conviction, under Section 15(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994.
However, judge Mazdi Abdul Hamid advised the prosecution to review the charge in respect of the alleged time which he said was not consistent with the time of the incident.
“Why state the time as 1.56pm until 6pm in the charge? Did the incident happen at 1.56pm or 6pm? This timeline could affect Lai’s defence.
“If it is 6pm, then it has nothing to do with the incident that claimed nine lives. The given to him was RM38,040.
The case was heard in two courts – one presided by Muhammad Faizal Che Saad and the other by Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali.
The prosecuting officers were Inspector Awang Iswandi and Inspector Badrul Iskandar. exact time should be 1.56 pm, consistent with the time of incident. I’m giving the prosecution time to amend the charge. If doubts such as this ever arise again, I will throw out the case,” warned the judge.
Prosecuting officer Norliza Abu Othman from the Penang Occupational Safety and Health Department explained that the incident occurred at 1.56 pm but the investigation began at 6pm.
The court set Sept 27 for mention.
Lai was represented by counsel S Kanesh. — Bernama