Najib charged with receiving RM42 mln proceeds from unlawful activities

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was charged in the Sessions Court today with three counts of having received RM42 million in proceeds from unlawful activities into two of his accounts four years ago, with the money belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

However, no plea was recorded from Najib, 65, after the three charges were read out to him before Judge Azura Alwi.

The court allowed an application by the prosecution to have the case transferred to the High Court.

On the three charges, Najib was alleged to have received RM27 million, RM5 million and RM10 million, respectively, which were proceeds from unlawful activities, via Real Time Electronic Transfer of Funds and Securities (Rentas) into two AmIslamic Bank Berhad accounts of his bearing the numbers 2112022011880 and 2112022011906.

He is alleged to have committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, AmBank Group Building, No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan, here, between Dec 26, 2014, and Feb 10, 2015.

The prosecution was filed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA) 2001 which provides for the penalty under Section 4(1) of the same act.

The section provides for, upon conviction, a maximum jail term of 15 years and a fine of up to five times the sum or value of the proceeds of the unlawful activities or instrumentalities of the offences at the time that the offences were committed or RM5 million, whichever is the higher.

Najib was represented by counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah while the prosecution team was led by Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria, head of the Appellate and Trial Division in the Attorney-General’s Chambers. 

On July 4, Najib pleaded not guilty in the High Court to three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and one charge of abuse of power involving RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

-- BERNAMA