Shahrir Samad’s RM1 million money laundering case to begin April 1

The trial of former Felda chairman Shahrir Samad, who is charged with failing to declare RM1 million received from Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), will begin on April 1 at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Afif Ali, when contacted by Bernama, said the court had set 20 days for the hearing which will be before judge Azura Alwi.

The dates are April 1, 2, 22 and 23; June 29 and 30; Aug 12 and 13; Sept 1 and 17; Oct 4, 5, 18 and 25; Nov 5, 11 and 12 and Dec 6, 7 and 8, he said, adding that the prosecution is expected to call 19 witnesses.

Meanwhile, Shahrir’s lawyer Syahrul Syazwan Salehin said the High Court had also set March 1 for mention to determine the status of his client’s application to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court.

Shahrir, 72, is charged with money laundering by failing to state his real income in the income tax return form for assessment year 2013, a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, on the RM1 million, believed to be from unlawful activities which he received from Najib through a AmIslamic Bank Bhd cheque dated Nov 27, 2013.

The cheque was deposited into Shahrir’s Public Islamic Bank account on Nov 28, 2013.

He was charged with committing the offence at the LHDN Duta branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim on April 25, 2014.

The charge, framed under Section 4 (1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction.