MONEY-laundering laws against Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan are unrelated to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), the Umno man’s lawyer said.

Hamidi Mohd Noh said the charges specified against Ahmad have to do with his failure to declare his income to the Inland Revenue Board, and had no mention of 1MDB.

“My client was charged for not paying tax for the alleged RM2 million he received. That is where Amla comes in. Because of the non-declaration of income,” Hamidi said, using the abbreviation for the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

“What is interesting is that it has been claimed from the start that it involves 1MDB money but today I didn’t see a word on 1MDB,” the lawyer told reporters this afternoon after Ahmad settled bail at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.

Ahmad, who is formerly the deputy international trade and industry minister, claimed trial to two counts of money-laundering in the Sessions Court today.

The first count was for failure to declare to the Inland Revenue Board RM2 million he received from former prime minister Najib Razak in the form of a cheque dated November 27, 2013, which Ahmad cashed on the same day.

In the second charge, Ahmad is accused of giving a false statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission when he was questioned at Parliament on July 4, 2019, in which he denied receiving RM2 million from Najib.

On the second charge, Hamidi said his client’s defence statement given during questioning had been used against him.

“Anyone who is questioned by the cops or other authorities will deny that they committed the offence. 

Now his statement of not receiving the money is used against him for making a false statement.”

“We will fight this case, God-willing we will see how this goes,” he said.

Ahmad, meanwhile, reiterated his denial of receiving money from Najib.

“I didn’t get a single sen, why must I pay the compound for RM5 million?” Ahmad told reporters at the court complex this afternoon.

He was allowed bail at RM500,000 and upon his surrendering his passport to the court.

For the first charge, Ahmad, 53, faces a fine of not more RM5 million, jail of not more than five years, or both, if found guilty.

For the second charge of giving a false statement, he faces a fine of not more than RM3 million, jail of not more than five years, or both, upon conviction.

Another Umno man, Shahrir Samad was also charged this morning for not declaring to the IRB a sum of RM1 million he allegedly received from Najib.

Shahrir also pleaded not guilty and was bailed out at RM350,000 in one surety. – January 21, 2020.