Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (July 26): There is oral and documentary evidence to show that former Johor Bahru member of Parliament (MP) Tan Sri Shahrir Samad received RM1 million in his bank account from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Nov 27, 2013, but did not declare the receipt of the sum to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Afif Ali in his opening statement at the Kuala Lumpur High Court said, “The accused is charged with committing the offence at the IRB office, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim on April 25, 2014. The prosecution will provide oral and documentary evidence from the prosecution witness that the accused received RM1 million that was deposited into his Public Bank Islamic bank account, which he received from Najib via a cheque dated Nov 27, 2013.

“There is also evidence from the accused who did not report this as his revenue in his income tax return for the year 2013, and this proves that he is directly involved in the illegal transaction.”

He said Shahrir, 72, is charged under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUA 2001), and that through the prosecution's witnesses, the prosecution will prove its case from the direct and indirect testimonies given in court.

The first witness Rosli Mat Jinun, assistant senior administrative officer for Parliament affairs, testified to the income an MP receives.

Rosli, 49, testified that all MPs receive a total of RM25,700 in monthly allowances and special payment.

“He was appointed in 1978 as an MP and that amount was paid directly to Shahrir's Public Bank account,” he added.

Shahrir's defence team comprising Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, and Datuk Syed Faisal Al Edross Syed Abdullah objected to the admission of some of the documents comprising the income statement given by Parliament.

Dzulkifli was former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner.

Following the objection, Rosli agreed to bring the required documentation on Thursday.

Shahrir is charged with money laundering by not stating his real income in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 2013, which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, over the RM1 million, believed to be from unlawful activities, which he received from Najib through a cheque.

Also a former chairman of Felda, Shahrir is alleged to have committed the offence at IRB, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim on April 25, 2014.

The charge, framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the AMLATFPUA 2001, provides a maximum fine of RM5 million, or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, if found guilty.

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