A former PKR leader has pressed the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to disclose why the prosecution withdrew its case against businessperson Nicky Liow, who faced 26 money laundering charges involving RM36 million.
Liow’s lawyer, Rajpal Singh, yesterday confirmed that his client was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) and released on June 15, 2023, after the AGC accepted a representation letter from Liow.
The lawyer added that Liow (above) had also paid the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) almost RM400,000 in outstanding taxes to settle his charges for incorrectly submitting tax return forms under the Income Tax Act.
In an X post last night, former Batu PKR chief Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi urged the AGC to detail its reasoning behind the lack of continued prosecution against Liow.
Asheeq cautioned that a lack of clarity on the matter could impact public perception of the police, who had earlier pursued investigations against the businessperson after he landed on their wanted list for his alleged involvement in a syndicate dubbed “Gang Nicky”.
“This case once shook the whole of Malaysia, with the investigation led by Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay (during his tenure as Johor police chief).
“Was the entire police investigation that led to the RM36 million charge nothing but a farce?” Asheeq questioned.
Charged in absentia
Liow had pleaded not guilty to all 26 charges, framed under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, on April 12, 2022 before Shah Alam Sessions Court judge Helina Sulaiman.
The businessperson, who was charged in his capacity as a company director, faced up to 15 years in jail and a fine of at least five times the sum obtained from money laundering or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
He was accused of committing the offence in several locations near the Klang Valley between 2016 and 2021 after being charged in absentia under the same act.
The day before he pleaded not guilty, Liow, founder of Winner Dynasty Group, surrendered to the police after being on the run from authorities for over a year.
On July 7, 2022, the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged 14 individuals, including two of Liow’s siblings, from charges of being involved in the organised crime group known as “Gang Nicky” five years ago.
A three-panel judge made the unanimous decision after Rajpal informed the court that the AGC had received representations from all appellants to be fully acquitted of the charges, following the High Court’s order for a DNAA.
Rajpal yesterday said Liow was similarly acquitted and discharged.
Suspected corrupt help
Recently retired deputy inspector general of police Ayob at the time suspected Liow initially managed to evade arrest with the help of law enforcement authorities on his payroll.
This led to police training their guns on those who were aiding the man, with then-inspector-general of police Abdul Hamid Bador subsequently revealing that 34 police officers and enforcement agency officers were linked to the former fugitive.
Johor police were also on the hunt for a former deputy public prosecutor to assist investigations into several money-laundering cases and commercial crimes in the state linked to Liow’s case.
It is believed that no court charges have been filed against the former deputy public prosecutor, while police have not disclosed his whereabouts.
Liow’s name recently made headlines again after he was pictured wearing a PKR Youth shirt at a fundraiser event alongside PKR president and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The businessperson’s lawyer has since affirmed that Liow’s presence at the occasion was based on an open invitation to NGOs, one of which he was a member. - FMT
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