FORMER Perlis menteri besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man has been charged again, this time over alleged money laundering involving RM1.06 mil.
Azlan showed up in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court this morning, claiming trial on five counts of money laundering worth RM1,059,675.25.
The alleged offences were committed by two companies, Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd and Aidil Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, and reportedly occurred between Feb 19, 2014, and December 2017.
Money laundering is the crime of concealing the origins of illegally obtained money, typically by means of transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses.
Azlan claimed trial on five charges of false claims totaling RM1.185 mil before the Kangar Sessions Court, two days ago (April 10).
Moreover, Azlan was alleged to have received alleged proceeds from unlawful activities from the two companies in five tranches for today’s five money laundering charges read out before trial Judge Azura Alwi.
The tranches involved amounts of RM208,339.90, RM196,651, RM224,404.40, RM222,811.95, and RM207,468, according to Malaysiakini.
Azlan is accused of receiving the monies in the form of cheques banked into his two bank accounts, one at the Maybank branch at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur, and another at the CIMB Bank branch at Putrajaya.
The five charges are framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amlatfpuaa).
If proven guilty, Azlan faces a maximum jail term of five years, a fine not less than five times the unlawful proceeds amount or RM5 mil, whichever is higher.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Ahmad Akram Gharib sought for bail to be set at RM50,000 in one local surety during open court proceedings today.
Furthermore, the DPP also notified Azura that the prosecution would seek the Kangar court to transfer Azlan’s case there to the Kuala Lumpur court for a joint trial of all the matters before the current court.
The accused’s solicitor Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid, then informed Azura that the defence side is asking for the same bail sum.
Azura then granted bail at RM50,000 in one surety and set June 9 for mention of the case.
From 2013 through 2018, Azlan served as the assemblyperson for Pauh. After that, he served as mayor of Bintong from 2018 to 2022. His quest to retain the seat in the 2022 election was unsuccessful, therefore ending his two-term tenure as menteri besar.
Azlan was the final menteri besar to be named following the 2018 general election since Perlis BN refused to support him. Perlis BN assemblypersons eventually stood down and joined Azlan’s cabinet. — April 12, 2023
Main photo credit: The Sun Daily
