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UMNO's Ahmad Maslan Freed From Money Laundering Charge After Paying RM1.1 Million Compound

The Kuala Lumpur High Court also acquitted the UMNO secretary-general of the charge of giving false statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)

Cover image via Berita Harian

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Pontian member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has been freed from two charges of money laundering and giving a false statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)

According to Bernama, the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted the UMNO secretary-general today, 29 September, after he paid a RM1.1 million compound.

The money laundering charge was for failing to declare RM2 million that he received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN).

Ahmad Maslan had purportedly received the money from Najib via a cheque dated 27 November 2013, which he personally cashed the same day

However, he had failed to declare the source of the money to the LHDN, which in turn was a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, reported New Straits Times.

The charge under Section 4(1)(a) of Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFAPUAA) carries a fine or five years' jail, or both, if convicted.

Following which, Ahmad Maslan was also charged with making a false statement to the MACC in 2019 while he was being questioned

The Pontian MP allegedly committed the offence at a media conference room at the Parliament building on Jalan Parliament, between 2.45pm and 3.30pm on 4 July 2019.

With the acquittal, it is expected that Ahmad Maslan's nomination for the Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker position may go through:

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