KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has refused to drop the two money laundering charges against Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan for allegedly receiving funds from Najib Razak.
Deputy public prosecutor Siti Noor Hafizan Zakaria told Sessions Court judge Ahmad Kamar Jamaludin today the prosecution had rejected Ahmad’s third representation on Oct 5.
“The prosecution requests the court to fix new trial dates in 2021, as one of our prosecution members and the case investigating officer are under quarantine,” she said.
Ahmad’s lawyer, Mohamed Baharudeen Mohamed Ariff, said the defence was only available “from June 2021 onwards”.
Kamar then asked Siti Noor Hafizan how many witnesses will be testifying in the trial, to which she said the prosecution has 10 witnesses.
“We have served their witness’ statements to the defence,” she added.
The court then fixed Ahmad’s trial for July 5 to 8, 12 to 15 and 26 to 29.
Ahmad claimed trial in January on charges of failing to declare RM2 million he received from the former prime minister in his 2013 tax returns as well as giving false information to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
He is accused of telling MACC officer Mohd Zairi Zainal that he had not received the cheque for RM2 million from Najib and that he had not seen the cheque, or that he had cashed the cheque.
Both charges were framed under Sections 4(1)(a) and 32(8)(c) of the Anti Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
Previously, the Sessions Court dismissed Ahmad’s application to strike out both the money laundering charges on grounds that the application was premature.