Shahrir Samad cancels plan to send representation over failure to declare RM1 million to IRB

This was informed by his lawyer, Syahrul Syazwan Salehin, when contacted by Bernama through Whatsapp today.

"Tan Sri Shahrir has decided to not send the representation because he wants to clear his name through the court process,” he said.

Last May 21, Syahrul Syazwan informed reporters that Shahrir would send a representation to the AG and that he would study the documents and discuss with his client on the matter.

Meanwhile, Syahrul Syazwan said the defence had filed an application to transfer the case to the High Court, which had fixed Oct 30 to hear the matter which would be before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.

"We filed the application last Aug 17 and was set for hearing before judge Mohd Nazlan last Oct 8, but was postponed because the lead counsel was in quarantine due to COVID-19,” he added.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Afif Ali, from the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC), when contacted, said the prosecution would object against the transfer of the case to the High Court.

Prior to this, Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi had set Oct 12 to 15 to hear the case, but it had been postponed as the lead counsel was in quarantine.

The new hearing dates have been fixed from Nov 9 to 12 and Dec 3.

Shahrir, 71, 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, on the RM1 million, believed to be from unlawful activities which he received from Najib through a AmIslamic Bank Berhad cheque dated Nov 27, 2013.

The cheque was then deposited into his (Shahrir) Public Islamic Bank account on Nov 28, 2013.

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

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