Najib claims trial to RM42m money-laundering charges

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak pleaded not guilty at the High Court yesterday to three new charges under t he Anti- Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 involving RM42 million linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRC).

The charges against him were read out before Judge Datuk Azman Abdullah.

The prosecution team was led by Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria who appealed to the court for all the three charges to be heard together with four other charges brought against Najib last month.

Najib’s lead defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah agreed to the request.

In July, Najib was charged at the High Court here on three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and one charge under the MACC Act, in his capacity as prime minister, finance minister and adviser emeritus of SRC involving RM42 million. SRC was a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

The new charges yesterday against Najib were earlier heard in the sessions court before Judge Azura Alwi.

He was charged with allegedly receiving funds obtained through illegal activities transferred via Real Time Electronic Transfer of Funds and Securities (Rentas) into his AmIslamic bank account at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Bangunan AmBank Group, No. 55 Jalan Raja Chulan on Dec 26, 2014.

On the first charge, he was accused of receiving RM27 million and on the second charge, he was alleged to have received RM5 million on the same day and place.

On the third charge, he was accused of receiving RM10 million into his AmIslamic account at the same place on Feb 10, 2015.

All three charges were under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, AntiTerrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 punishable under Section 4(1) of the same Act which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years and fine of not less than five times the sum of the unlawful activity’s proceeds or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

Lawyers Datuk K. Kumaraendran, Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent and Revin Kumar held a watching brief for Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who was not present during court proceedings.

His children Nizar, Norashman and Nooryana Najwa, as well as son-in-law Daniyar Nazarbayev were present in court.

Meanwhile, the High Court will hear submissions this Friday on the gag order on the case that was issued earlier and to set trial dates.