THE Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court was today told that Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan’s application to have his charges of money-laundering and giving a false statement dropped is baseless and premature.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar, in his submission, said the bid was made before documents pertaining to the case were handed to the defence.

Mukhzany Fariz, who was assisted by DPP Siti Noor Hafizan Zakaria, said the charges are well-founded.

“As such, the court should dismiss the application and proceed with the trial, so that the prosecution witnesses can be called to give their testimonies,” he said during a hearing on the application before justice Azman Ahmad.

Ahmad, 54, filed the application on February 11.

Earlier, defence lawyer Ahmad Hamidi Mohd Noh said the two charges are defective and unfounded as the offences have not been clearly stated.

“The charges are groundless as they don’t mention the offences, and the offences (stated in the charge sheet) are confusing. Based on that, we filed the application.”

Azman fixed July 24 to decide on the bid.

For the money-laundering charge, Ahmad is accused of not stating his real income for the assessment year 2013 with regard to RM2 million he received from former prime minister Najib Razak. The sum is believed to be proceeds from unlawful activities.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Inland Revenue Board’s office in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim on April 30, 2014.

The charge, under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million, or a jail term of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.

For his second charge, Ahmad allegedly gave a false statement on the case to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in the Parliament building on July 4 last year.

The charge, under Section 32(8)(c) of the same act, provides for a maximum fine of RM3 million, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction. – Bernama, July 9, 2020.