KUALA LUMPUR (July 24): The Sessions Court here today dismissed Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan’s bid to strike out charges of money laundering and providing a false statement to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.

Judge Azman Ahmad said that striking out Ahmad’s charges would be premature at this stage and dismissed the application made by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pontian. 

In a brief judgement, the judge said that the charges brought against Ahmad are not groundless and have some merits.

“Therefore, the court rejects the application for this criminal application,” he said. 

Ahmad was represented by lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh.

The former deputy minister is charged with not declaring to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) that he received RM2 million via an AmIslamic Bank Bhd cheque from alleged illegal proceeds from former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the 2013 tax assessment.

If convicted under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA), Ahmad could face a maximum fine of RM5 million, up to five years in jail or both.

He also faces another charge of allegedly giving a false statement to MACC investigating officer Mohd Zairi Zainal in the Parliament press conference room on July 23 last year.

Ahmad allegedly said the money was not from Najib, that he had not seen a cheque for that amount, and neither knew about the cheque nor cashed it.

For this offence under Section 32(8) of the AMLATFPUAA, the federal lawmaker faces a maximum fine of RM3 million, jail for a maximum of five years or both if convicted.

Ahmad allegedly received the AmIslamic bank cheque from Najib dated Nov 27, 2013 and banked in the monies on the same day.

The judge set Sept 4 for case mention. 

The trial dates are set to be Oct 1, 2, 16 and 23, Nov 6 and Dec 24.