Najib charged with three counts under Anti-Money Laundering Act

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has been charged with three counts of money laundering amounting to RM42mil under Section 4 (1)(b) of Anti-Money Laundering Act, Anti-Terrorism Financing Act and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) 2001 on Wednesday (Aug 8).

After the charges were read out in Malay by a court interpreter, Najib said "faham" (understood). No plea was recorded.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed an application by the prosecution to transfer the Amla cases to the High Court.

The former prime minister was accused of receiving RM27mil, RM5mil and RM10mil - which were obtained from illegal activities through Real Time Electronic Transfer of Funds and Securities (Rentas) into his bank account in three separate transactions.

The first and second offences were allegedly committed at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Bangunan AmBank Group, No 53, Jalan Raja Chulan here on Dec 26, 2014 while the third offence was allegedly committed at the same place on Feb 10, 2015.

The prosecution team is led by Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria from the Attorney General's Chambers while the defence team is led by senior lawyer Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

More to come