FORMER PAS deputy president Dr Nasharudin Mat Isa today claimed trial to 33 charges of money-laundering and criminal breach of trust involving RM4 million.

Nasharudin was charged with three counts of money-laundering amounting to RM302,000 under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 and 30 counts of CBT under Section 409 of the Penal Code involving RM3.7 million.

The 57-year-old former politician pleaded not guilty after all charges were read out to him before Shah Alam Sessions judge Rozilah Salleh.

According to the first three charges, Nasharudin was accused of transferring RM302,069 from the Finance Ministry from November 2018 to December 2018 into Wassatiyah Centre for Peace – a foundation owned by the former Bachok MP.

The funds were earmarked for the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM), a civil society organisation where Nasharudin served as its former chief executive officer.

The alleged money-laundering offences occurred about four months after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad ordered GMM’s closure.

Nasharudin was appointed its executive chairman from October 28, 2015 until its last day on July 31, 2018.

For 30 charges Nasharudin as the chairman of Yassar Foundation was accused of committing the offence between 2015 and 2018 involving RM3.721 million.

He allegedly used some of the money to pay his son’s university fees amounting to RM25,756 in February 2018.

A month later, he transferred RM34,000 into his daughter’s account as a loan.

He was also accused of wrongfully using the money from the foundation to pay his salary as chairman for RM20,000 between 2015 and 2018.

In March 2015, Nasharudin dipped into the funds to make a duty stamp payment to a law firm amounting to RM50,000 to purchase a shop lot in Bangi.

In August 2016, he paid a catering company RM50,000 for his son’s wedding.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Zaki Mohd Salleh offered bail at RM1 million in one surety.

Lawyer Mat Yunus Shariff, representing Nasharudin, asked for a lower bail of RM150,000 for all 33 charges.

“My client had all his accounts frozen and is unable to come up with that amount (RM1 million). We are asking if the court can set lower bail and we are suggesting RM150,000 for all 33 charges.

“Throughout the investigation, my client has been cooperating with the MACC and has no intention of avoiding the authorities,” Mat Yunus said.

Norazilah later fixed bail at RM330,000 in one surety as well as ordering the accused to hand over his passport.

The case is set for mention on November 28.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission received the green light from the attorney-general to press charges against Nasharudin, who is among several individuals from PAS who allegedly received RM90 million from 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Nasharudin was arrested at 2pm at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.

In February, Nasharudin said he had submitted to MACC investigators relevant documents, such as bank statements of personal accounts and those of GMM’s.

MACC subsequently interviewed former PAS vice-president Husam Musa, now Amanah vice-president, who said he had the details of the RM90 million cash transactions allegedly linked to the leaders of his former party. – October 22, 2019.