A BERSATU leader has claimed that the new money laundering charges against him are a ploy to distract the people from the government’s “numerous failures”, including the failure to curb the rising cost of living.
Earlier today (Oct 25) Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan pleaded not guilty to the 18 counts of money laundering charges, involving funds totalling around RM5.59 mil when it was read out to him before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin.
These come on top of the two charges he is currently facing linked to the Jana Wibawa initiative.
“I see the charges against me today as an attempt to shift the people’s attention from the government’s numerous failures,” he was quoted as saying by FMT to reporters at the lobby of the court complex.
“It failed to curb the rising prices of goods and cost of living and failed to effectively help the people and conduct the reforms they fought for all this while.”
The former Bersatu information chief further reiterated calls for reform, notably on the separation of power between the attorney-general and the public prosecutor, alongside the appointment of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) chief commissioner.
“I would like to reiterate the calls from my comrades in the political arena and NGOs to improve the mechanism for the MACC chief commissioner’s appointment so it can be transparent and free from external influence,” he noted.
He also expressed concern that the government would use studying the reform as an excuse to delay the actual process which should have been started immediately.
Today’s 18 fresh charges accused Wan Saiful, in his capacity as director of WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd, of using his company’s accounts to launder funds from allegedly illegal activities.
Four of the charges alleged that Wan Saiful channelled illegal proceeds totalling RM 3.17 mil through WSA Advisory into his own accounts.
This includes an alleged RM2.3 mil transfer, via two cheques, issued into his own accounts in late August last year.
Meanwhile, Wan Saiful was also accused of transferring RM78,800 of illegal proceeds through WSA Advisory Group to facilitate the purchase of a Ford Ranger on Aug 12, 2022.
The other 13 charges involving alleged laundering of illegal proceeds totalling RM2.31 mil are related to transfers of allegedly illegal proceeds from the company’s accounts to other companies, organisations and individuals.
The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).
If convicted, he can be imprisoned for up to 15 years and fined five times the amount involved, or a minimum of RM5 mil. – Oct 25, 2023
Main pic credit: Bernama
