October 26, 2023
KUALA LUMPUR – Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan has claimed trial to 18 counts of money laundering involving funds totaling RM5.59mil, which allegedly came from unlawful activities.
“I plead not guilty and claim trial,” the 48-year-old said before Sessions Court Judge Suzana Hussin as each of the 18 charges were read out to him in court yesterday.
If convicted, the former Bersatu information chief faces a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification, or RM5mil, whichever is higher.
Wan Saiful faces 13 charges of transferring the proceeds from illegal activities, totaling RM1.6mil, and five other charges of using illegal money, amounting to RM3.9mil.
In February, he was charged with two counts of corruption involving some RM6.9mil for soliciting and receiving bribes to assist a company to obtain a government project linked Covid-19-related relief for businesses.
Yesterday, the court heard how Wan Saiful had allegedly transferred RM78,800 from a bank account belonging to his company, WSA Advisory Sdn Bhd, to a bank account owned by Tagami Auto Enterprise Sdn Bhd to purchase a Ford Ranger.
In two charges, he allegedly transferred RM291,564.96 and RM49,000 respectively from WSA Advisory to two different accounts he controlled.
Also through the same company, he had allegedly transferred RM180,000 and RM36,550 of funds from unlawful activities to the National Sports Council and Pertubuhan Penggerak Muafakat Bagan Seberang Perai Utara, respectively.
In another charge, a sum of RM38,160 had allegedly been transferred from Wan Saiful’s company to Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd.
He also allegedly transferred money from illegal activities to bank accounts belonging to 4 Jejak Global Enterprise (RM425,650), PYI Global Trading (RM120,000), Fokus Malaysia Studios (RM176,380), Akademi Gagasan Minda Merdeka (RM100,000), Chin Kang Hardware Jitra (RM88,000), Good Square Sdn Bhd (RM46,487.85) and to one individual (RM33,521).
The accused was also charged with allegedly transferring money from illegal activities via cheques comprising RM2.3mil and RM530,471.46 from his company’s bank account to his personal account.
Three other cheques, amounting to RM400,000, RM400,000 and RM300,000 were also made out to Syarikat Jendela Timur Consultant, Fendi Dilif Resources and Duckling Management & Services respectively.
He allegedly committed the above offences at the Bukit Tunku CIMB Bank branch between August and November last year.
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).
Deputy Public Prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop proposed that the hearings for all these charges be heard at the same Sessions Court where he was charged in February.
Farah Ezlin also asked for bail to be set at RM400,000 in one surety, for the accused to surrender his passport to the court and for him to report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s offices every two months.
Wan Saiful’s defence counsels did not object to these requests.
Judge Suzana then approved for the case to be heard together with Wan Saiful’s previous charges that were linked to the government Jana Wibawa programme.
In a press conference later, Wan Saiful accused the government of selective prosecution and characterised the fresh charges as a move to distract the public’s attention.