Ex-Felda chair not sending representation over failure to declare RM1m to IRB

 

Former Felda chairperson Shahrir Samad is not proceeding with plans to send a representation to the Attorney-General (AG)'s Chambers over the charge made against him for failing to declare the RM1 million he received from former premier Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

This was informed by his lawyer, Syahrul Syazwan Salehin, when contacted by Bernama today.

"Tan Sri Shahrir has decided to not send the representation because he wants to clear his name through the court process,” he said.

On May 21, Syahrul informed reporters that Shahrir (above) would send a representation to the AG and that he would study the documents and discuss the matter with his client.

Meanwhile, Syahrul said the defence filed an application to transfer the case to the High Court, which fixed Oct 30 to hear the matter before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.

"We filed the application on Aug 17 and was set for hearing before judge Mohd Nazlan on Oct 8, but was postponed because the lead counsel was in quarantine due to Covid-19,” he added.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Afif Ali, from the MACC, when contacted, said the prosecution would object against the transfer of the case to the High Court.

Prior to this, Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi had set Oct 12 to 15 to hear the case, but it had been postponed as the lead counsel was in quarantine.

The new hearing dates have been fixed from Nov 9 to 12 and Dec 3.

Shahrir, 71, charged with money laundering by not stating his real income in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 2013, which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, on the RM1 million, believed to be from unlawful activities which he received from Najib through an AmIslamic Bank Berhad cheque dated Nov 27, 2013.

The cheque was then deposited into his (Shahrir's) Public Islamic Bank account on Nov 28, 2013.

Shahrir was charged with committing the offence at IRB, Duta branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here on April 25, 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, which provides a maximum fine of RM5 million, or imprisonment for up to five years, or both if found guilty.

- Bernama