This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on August 27, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyer for Umno legal adviser Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun has requested for more details concerning the charges against the latter for his alleged involvement in laundering RM15 million.

At the case management yesterday, lawyer Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican told the Sessions Court that his team will file the application for better particulars in the prosecution’s charges by Sept 6.

Hasnal said this became necessary after a witness in the case of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s alleged involvement in the SRC International Sdn Bhd fund embezzlement testified in the High Court that there was actually a donation of RM369 million, allegedly from Prince Faisal Al Turkey, and another RM243 million from the “Riyadh finance ministry”, with both amounts deposited into Najib’s AmBank account ending with the number 694 in 2011.

Hasnal said it is important to determine whether the source of funds in Hafarizam’s case was related to the alleged donations or otherwise.

“We brought to the attention of the court, to file [an] application for further and better particulars of the charge. We certainly have to enquire whether there [are] actually unlawful activities, or it is not? It is very relevant to our defence.”

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said his team will wait for the application and decide whether they could furnish the requested particulars.

Justice Azman Ahmad fixed Sept 23 to hear the application, and will decide whether to allow it on Oct 3. The judge also fixed Oct 22 afternoon and the mornings of Nov 11, 12 and 13 this year to hear the case itself.

Hafarizam is charged with two counts of money laundering by way of depositing a total of RM15 million from Najib into his law firm’s bank account.

Speaking to reporters, Ashrof said the prosecution may call up to 15 witnesses for the case.