KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan pleaded not guilty in the High Court here to failing to declare RM2mil received from Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and giving a false statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

       “I understand and I plead not guilty,” said the Pontian MP when asked by the court interpreter before Justice Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh.

       Ahmad, 55, had initially entered a not guilty plea on July 13 when the court allowed his application to transfer the case from the Sessions Court to the High Court.

       In allowing Ahmad to maintain the RM500,000 bail imposed by the Sessions Court when he was charged for the first time on Jan 21 last year, the High Court also set Sept 29 for case management.

       At yesterday’s proceedings, the prosecution, led by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Mukhzany Fariz Mohd Mokhtar, informed the court that it would be calling 10 witnesses.

       The hearing had been set for 23 days next year, from June 7-9, June 13-15, July 18-21, July 25-28, Aug 15-19 and Aug 22-25.

       The dates were agreed to by Ahmad’s lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh.

       On the charge of money laundering, Ahmad is alleged to have violated Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 by not stating his real income on the RM2mil he received from the former prime minister in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 2013.

       He is alleged to have received the money, believed to be proceeds from unlawful activities, via an AmIslamic Bank Bhd cheque dated Nov 27, 2013, which he had personally cashed on the same day.

       The offence was allegedly committed at the LHDN Duta branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, on April 30, 2014.

       If found guilty under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, he can be fined a maximum RM5mil, jailed for up to five years or both.

       The other charge is allegedly giving a false statement to the MACC when questioned by investigating officer Mohd Zairi Zainal over the issue at the media conference room in the Parliament building between 2.45pm and 3.30pm on July 4, 2019.

       This offence under Section 32(8)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act carries a maximum fine of RM3mil, imprisonment of up to five years or both, upon conviction. — Bernama