The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has set another mention on Aug 18 for the RM27 million SRC International money laundering case against former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
This was due to the upcoming Federal Court appeal hearing by King’s Counsel Jonathan Laidlaw to represent Najib in the SRC case, which is set for Aug 10.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul informed High Court judge K Muniandy of this during today’s mention of the case.
The DPP said even though the apex court had on March 31 dismissed Najib’s application to review his conviction and 12-year jail sentence in the separate RM42 million SRC International corruption case, the Laidlaw appeal is still ongoing.
The RM42 million SRC International case (for which Najib is currently serving his sentence at Kajang Prison) involved one charge of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust, and three counts of money laundering.
In contrast, the ongoing RM27 million SRC International case involved three money laundering charges.
No objection from defence
Ashrof said the apex court had set Aug 10 to hear Laidlaw’s appeal, so the prosecution seeks another mention date for the SRC International RM27 million money laundering case.
The accused’s lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said while they have no objection to further mention of the case, he reminded the criminal court that the case has been long pending.
The lawyer said the RM27 million SRC International money laundering charges are quite independent of the seven charges in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.
Shafee added that in the event the apex court denies Laidlaw’s appeal, they would then seek for the criminal court to set an early hearing date for the case.
Muniandy then fixed Aug 18 for further mention of the case.
The case previously came up for mention on March 3. However, Muniandy then allowed the prosecution’s application for the matter to be set for further mention today, due to Najib’s then still pending review at the apex court.
The RM27 million SRC International money laundering case against Najib has been postponed several times since 2019 due to the accused’s various other criminal cases.
On Feb 3, 2019, before the criminal court, Najib pleaded not guilty to three laundering money charges that involved the alleged accepting of proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM27 million, via his three bank accounts.
He was accused of committing the offence at AmIslamic Bank, Ambank Group Building, No 55, Jalan Raja Chulan on July 8, 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 (Amla).
He faces a maximum fine of RM5 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both if convicted. - Mkini
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