KUALA LUMPUR – Former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan has pleaded not guilty to 18 fresh charges of money laundering at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court today.
He claimed trial to all charges after it was read out to him before sessions court judge Suzana Hussain today.
The Tasek Gelugor MP is accused of committing all 18 offenses between August 12 to November 13 of last year.
13 out of the 18 charges he faced today alleges him, as the WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd’s director, to have transferred over RM1.66 million allegedly obtained through illegal means, to several entities including Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd and Jejak Global Enterprise.
While the remaining five charges allege him, as the company’s director, to have used over RM3.93 million of the company’s money, that was allegedly obtained through illegal means, to pay several other entities including Tagami Auto Enterprise Sdn Bhd, as payment to buy a Ford Ranger.
All 18 charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA), that carries a jail term not exceeding 15 years and a fine of at least five times the sum obtained from money laundering or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Wan Saiful, or his registered name Wan Saifulruddin, was represented by lawyers Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran and Amer Hamzah Arshad, while the prosecution was conducted by Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan.
Earlier, he was scheduled to have been charged before sessions court judge Azura Alwi.
However, Azura then granted him discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) before the charges were read out to him, as there were technical errors and the prosecution had to re-file the charges to be read before Suzana.
During the court proceedings, which was preceded by Suzana, Farah Ezlin suggested for the court to tie-up the bail and additional conditions for today’s charges, along with Wan Saiful’s previous charges that was heard before Azura.
The defence proceeded to inform the court that they have no objection against the prosecution’s suggestions.
Suzana then allowed Farah Ezlin’s suggestion, and fixed December 1 for case management to be heard before sessions court judge Rozina Ayob.
Previously, Wan Saiful faced a corruption charge on February 13 for allegedly soliciting and accepting nearly RM7 million in bribes in connection with the Jana Wibawa programme.
The former National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) chairman was also charged on February 21 with two counts of asking and accepting bribes amounting to almost RM7 million.
His bail, then, was set to RM400,000 with his international passport surrendered to court and he has to report himself to MACC headquarters on the first week of every two months.
Those initial charges were filed under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
In May, he sought to have his charges dismissed, but the application was denied by sessions judge Rozina Ayob on July 21. – October 25, 2023