[ad_1]
KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR / ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, stepson of former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, received a discharge that does not amount to an acquittal by the Kuala Lumpur Session Court on Thursday (14 May) on five counts of money laundering charges involving $ 248 million (S $ 352.5 million) linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
The Session Court judge, Azman Ahmad, made the decision after both parties reached an agreement through a representation sent to the Chambers of the Attorney General.
Thursday was initially arranged for case management.
Deputy Prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, who headed the prosecution, read a statement in court, saying that Riza has made several statements since he was first charged.
“An agreement was reached between the prosecution and the accused under the terms of which the federal government will receive a substantial sum of several million ringgit.”
“The sum has a direct reference to the issue of the charges framed in this case,” said Datuk Seri Sri Ram.
He added that as a result of the agreement, the framed charges against Riza will not continue until the agreement is completed.
“The prosecution, with the consent of the accused, now respectfully moves the court on a discharge order that does not amount to an acquittal,” said Sri Ram.
After the statement was read, Judge Azman issued a discharge order that did not amount to an acquittal.
The court also ordered the return of bail of RM1 million (S $ 327,800) in two guarantees.
On July 5 of last year, Riza, owner of Red Granite Pictures, pleaded not guilty to five charges.
In the first charge, the Wolf Of Wall Street producer was accused of being involved in money laundering proceeds of illegal activities in the amount of US $ 1,173,104 through a transaction made from an account with the number 11116073, which belonged to Good Star Limited at RBS Coutts, Switzerland, at account number 123248291 for City National Bank, Los Angeles, belonging to Red Granite Productions Inc.
The money was allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB funds between April 12 and May 12 at City National Bank.
In the second charge, Riza, who is the son of Datuk Seri Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, from his previous marriage, was accused of committing the same crime involving $ 9 million through transfers from the same account on 10 September 2012 and October 10. 2012, in the same place.
In the third and fourth charges, he was accused of the same crime involving money transfers worth US $ 133 million and US $ 60 million from account number 81134378 belonging to Aabar Investment PJS Limited, at BSI SA, Lugano, Switzerland, until account number 6C02250A at BSI Bank Limited, Singapore, owned by Red Granite Capital Ltd.
The crime was allegedly committed at BSI Ltd in Singapore on June 18, 2012 and October 23, 2012.
In the fifth charge, Riza was accused of committing the same crime in the amount of $ 45 million at the same location on November 14, 2012.
The charges were framed in accordance with Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001, which carries a fine not to exceed RM5 million or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both in case of conviction.
[ad_2]
