High Court frees Umno MP Ahmad Maslan of RM2m money laundering charge
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — Pontian MP Datuk Ahmad Maslan has been acquitted of a RM2 million money laundering charge and giving false statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) this morning.
The High Court made the decision to free him during case management this morning, New Straits Times reported on its website.
National news agency Bernama also reported that Ahmad paid a RM1.1 million compound.
The Umno secretary-general was first charged at the Sessions Court in January last year with failing to declare RM2 million received from then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) back in 2014, and giving a false statement to the MACC about it.
The case was later transferred to the High Court and Ahmad claimed trial, which was scheduled to begin next June.
Ahmad was accused of breaking Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 by not stating his real income on the RM2 million received from Najib in his Income Tax Return Form for the Assessment Year 2013.
He is alleged to have received the money, believed to be proceeds of illegal activities, via a check from AmIslamic Bank Berhad dated November 27, 2013 which he personally cashed on the same day.
The offence was allegedly committed at the IRB, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, on April 30, 2014.
The charge was framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
If he had been found guilty, he could have been sentenced up to five years in jail, fined a maximum RM5 million, or both.
In the second charge, he allegedly gave false statements to MACC investigating officer, Principal Senior Assistant Superintendent Mohd Zairi Zainal, on the money laundering case two years ago.
The charge was framed under Section 32(8)c) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and allegedly committed at the media conference room in the Parliament Building here, between 2.45pm and 3.30pm on July 4, 2019.
If found guilty, he could have been punished with jail up to five years, fined up to RM3 million, or both.
Related Articles Ahmad Maslan moots 10 to 20pc PTPTN loan write-off due to Covid-19 Impartiality and integrity are hallmarks of a good Speaker and you may find this in ordinary persons — Hafiz Hassan Report: Ahmad Maslan says pushing for political financing law again as he was a ‘victim’ last time
