THE Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court has granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to Najib Razak’s stepson Riza Aziz, who had been accused of laundering up to US$248 million via a Hollywood production house.

Justice Azman Ahmad today allowed the application after ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told the court that an agreement had been reached with the accused under the terms of which the federal government will receive a “substantial sum running into several million ringgit”.

Reading from a statement, Sri Ram said the sums have direct reference to the subject matter of the charges from in the case.

Riza claimed trial on July 5 to five counts of money-laundering by 1Malaysia Development Bhd-linked funds through the bank accounts of Red Granite Productions Inc, which he co-founded and was itself charged in the US for misappropriating monies from the Malaysian investment fund between April 12, 2011 and November 14, 2012.

Sri Ram told the court today that since the filing of the charges, Riza had made several representations through his lawyers to the relevant authorities.

Sri Ram added that these representations have been “considered most carefully by those concerned”.

“As a consequence of the agreement, the charges framed against the accused will not be proceeded with for the present, pending the completion of the agreement,” he said before moving the court for an order of discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

“If there is satisfactory completion of the agreement, appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that the accused obtains a full acquittal.

“But if there is no satisfactory completion of the agreement, the prosecution reserves its right to reinstate the charges and prosecute the accused to the full limit of the law.”

Riza was represented today by Hariharan Tara Singh and Tania Sciavetti.

The 43-year-old accused did not speak to the press after the proceedings.

Riza had sent his representation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers on November 18, his lawyers previously said.

His charges were framed according to Section 4(1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which carries a fine not exceeding RM5 million or imprisonment not exceeding five years, or both upon conviction.

On the first charge, Riza was accused of being involved in money laundering proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to US$1,173,104 via a transaction made from an account with the number 11116073 which belonged to Good Star Limited at RBS Coutts, Switzerland to account number 123248291 of City National Bank, Los Angeles, belonging to Red Granite Productions Inc.

The money was allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB funds between April 12 and May 12, 2012 at City National Bank, Los Angeles Main, 525 South Flower Street, Los Angeles, California.

On the second charge, Riza, who is the son of Rosmah Mansor from her previous marriage, was accused of committing the same offence involving US$9 million via transfers from the same account on September 10, 2012, and October 10, 2012, at the same premises.

On the third and fourth charges, he was accused of the same offence involving US$133 million and US$60 million in money transfers from account number 81134378 belonging to Aabar Investment PJS Limited, at BSI SA, Lugano, Switzerland to account number 6C02250A at BSI Bank Limited, Singapore belonging to Red Granite Capital Ltd.

The offence was allegedly committed at BSI Ltd, 7 Temasek Boulevard, #32-01 Suntec Tower One, Singapore on June 18, 2012, and October 23, 2012.

On the fifth charge, Riza was accused of committing the same offence amounting to US$45 million at the same venue on November 14, 2012. – May 14, 2020.