Former Perlis menteri besar Azlan Man has been charged again, this time over alleged money laundering involving RM1.06 million.
Before the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Azlan claimed trial to five counts of money laundering involving RM1,059,675.25.
The offences allegedly involved two companies, namely Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd and Aidil Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, and purportedly took place between Feb 19, 2014, and December 2017.
Money laundering is the offence of concealment of the origins of illegally obtained money, typically by means of transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses.
Two days ago before the Sessions Court in Kangar, Perlis, Azlan claimed trial to five counts of false claims involving RM1.185 million.
For today’s five money laundering charges read out before trial judge Azura Alwi, Azlan was alleged to have received alleged proceeds from unlawful activities from the two companies in five tranches.
The tranches involved amounts of RM208,339.90, RM196,651, RM224,404.40, RM222,811.95, and RM207,468.
Azlan is accused of receiving the monies in the form of cheques banked into his two bank accounts, one at the Maybank branch at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, and another at the CIMB Bank branch at Putrajaya.
The five charges are framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amlatfpuaa).
If found guilty, Azlan faces a maximum jail term of five years, a fine not less than five times the unlawful proceeds amount or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
During open court proceedings today, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib applied for the bail to be set at RM50,000 in one local surety.
The DPP also informed Azura that the prosecution would be seeking the Kangar court to transfer Azlan’s case there to the Kuala Lumpur court, for the purpose of a joint trial of all the cases before the present court.
The accused’s counsel Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid then informed Azura that the defence team is proposing an identical bail amount.
Azura then granted bail at RM50,000 in one surety and set June 9 for mention of the case.
Azlan, 64, was the Pauh assemblyperson from 2013 to 2018. He then held the Bintong seat from 2018 until 2022.
His bid to retain the seat during the 2022 election was unsuccessful, thus ending his two-term run as menteri besar.
After the 2018 general election, Azlan was the last menteri besar to be appointed following Perlis BN's refusal to back him.
Perlis BN assemblypersons eventually stood down and joined Azlan's cabinet. - Mkini
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