THE prosecution in the case of Shahrir Abdul Samad, who is charged with failing to declare the RM1 million he received from Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), said it will prove the former Felda chairman was directly involved in money laundering activities when he obtained the money from the former prime minister. 

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Afif Ali said there is oral testimony from witnesses to prove that the accused (Shahrir) obtained the money, which was deposited into his Public Islamic Bank account via a cheque dated November 27, 2013. 

“There is also testimony that the accused did not report his actual income in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 2013 and this proves that the accused has directly involved himself in a transaction that involves proceeds of an unlawful activity,” he said while reading the prosecution’s opening statement on the first day of the trial before High Court judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin. 

Shahrir is charged with money laundering by not stating his real income in the Income Tax Return Form, which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, on the RM1 million, believed to be from unlawful activities, which he received from Najib.

The cheque was deposited into Shahrir’s Public Islamic Bank account on November 28, 2013.

He is charged with committing the offence at IRB, Duta branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Kuala Lumpur, on April 25, 2014. 

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

According to Afif, the prosecution would call all relevant witnesses to prove its case against the accused either through direct or indirect evidence.

Shahrir, clad in a black suit, arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex at about 8.20am.

Deputy public prosecutors Rasyidah Murni Azmi and Natrah Fareha Rahmat were also present. 

At today’s proceedings, Shahrir was represented by lawyers Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros, Dzulkifli Ahmad (also the former chief of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission), Syahrul Syazwan Salehin, and Shazreen Mohd Hatta. 

After reading the opening statement, the prosecution called its first witness, Parliamentary Affairs Division senior assistant administrative officer Rosli Mat Jinun, 49, to testify. – Bernama, July 26, 2022.