THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has dismissed an application by Riza Aziz to transfer his money-laundering trial from the sessions court.

Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali ruled that the sessions court is qualified to hear the case, involving US$248.17 million (RM1.2 billion) in 1Malaysia Development Bhd-linked funds.

“Section 4(1) charges are regularly tried in the sessions court. Sessions court judges are no less competent, and are able to deal with complex issues.”

Defence lawyers had argued that Riza’s charges, all filed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, involved allegations of a complicated crime, thus, the case should be heard by a higher court.

The trial dates were earlier fixed from January 6 to 16 next year. The case will be heard before sessions court judge Rozina Ayob.

Riza, who is the stepson of former prime minister Najib Razak, was represented by lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, while senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram appeared for the prosecution.

Prosecutors, objecting to the transfer application, said the case is not complex and does not involve a constitutional issue, and the trial will likely be brief.

Riza was charged on July 5 with:

* Receiving illicit funds amounting to US$1,173,104 from Good Star Ltd between April 12, 2011 and May 12, 2011 via Red Granite Pictures’ account at City National Bank in Los Angeles;

* Receiving illicit funds amounting to US$9 million from Good Star Ltd between September 10, 2012 and October 10, 2012 via Red Granite Pictures’ account at City National Bank in Los Angeles;

* Receiving illicit funds amounting to US$133 million from Aabar Investments PJS Ltd on June 18, 2012 via Red Granite Capital Ltd’s account at BSI Bank in Singapore;

* Receiving illicit funds amounting to US$60 million from Aabar Investments PJS Ltd on October 23, 2012 via Red Granite Capital Ltd’s account at BSI Bank in Singapore; and,

* Receiving illicit funds amounting to US$45 million from Aabar Investments PJS Ltd on October 23, 2012 via Red Granite Capital Ltd’s account at BSI Bank in Singapore.

Riza faces imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of RM5 million upon conviction.

Red Granite Pictures was ordered to pay US$60 million to the US Justice Department in March last year to settle claims that it produced three films using funds siphoned off from 1MDB.

The company, which produced big-budget flicks such as The Wolf of Wall Street, Daddy’s Home, and Dumb and Dumber To, was ordered to settle the amount in three instalments over 12 months, according to documents filed with a district court in California.

The firm is accused by US authorities of receiving the sum as part of the US$238 million allegedly stolen from 1MDB, and Rizal himself is accused of using the funds to purchase luxury properties from wanted financier Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

Riza was also named in a RM680 million forfeiture suit filed by prosecutors last month over assets allegedly bought with 1MDB money. – September 23, 2019.