THE outcome of a representation filed by Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for a review of money laundering charges, involving US$248 million (RM1.25 billion) allegedly misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), against him will be known on February 25.

Deputy public prosecutor Norzilati Izhani Zainal informed Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob of the date when the case was mentioned in her chambers today, which was also attended by Riza’s lawyer Hariharan Tara Singh.

She also told reporters of the date and that the court would also decide on the same day the dates to hear the case.

Rozina had set January 6 to 9 and January 13 to 16 for the trial, but the dates have been vacated pending the outcome of the representation.

Riza, who is the stepson of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, had sent the representation to the AGC on November 18 last year.

On July 5, Riza, 42, the owner of Red Granite Pictures, pleaded not guilty to five charges of money laundering involving US$248 million (RM1.25 billion) which was allegedly misappropriated from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund.

On the first count, the producer of the film The Wolf of Wall Street was charged with receiving US$1,173,104 in proceeds from unlawful activities through a money transfer transaction from an account belonging to Good Star Limited at RBS Coutts, Zurich, Switzerland, to an account belonging to Red Granite Productions Inc at City National Bank, Los Angeles, United States.

The funds were alleged to have been misappropriated from the 1MDB fund.

The offence was allegedly committed between April 12 and May 12, 2011, at City National Bank, Los Angeles.

Riza was also charged with committing a similar offence, involving US$9 million, through a money transfer transaction from the same account on September 10, 2012, and October 10, 2012, at the same place.

On the third and fourth charges, he was charged with committing a similar offence, involving US$133 million and US$60 million, through money transfer transactions from an account number belonging to Aabar Investment PJS Limited at BSI SA, Lugano, Switzerland, to an account number belonging to Red Granite Capital Ltd at BSI Bank Limited, Singapore.

He was charged with committing the offence at BSI Ltd, 7 Temasek Boulevard, #32-01 Suntec Tower One, Singapore, on June 18, 2012, and October 23, 2012.

On the fifth count, Riza was charged with a similar offence, involving US$45 million, at the same place on November 14, 2012.

All the charges were made under Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction. – Bernama, January 31, 2020.