Umno lawyer Hafarizam claims trial to RM15m money laundering charges

Lawyer Hafarizam Harun (photo, above) has claimed trial to two charges of money laundering involving RM15 million.

The legal adviser to Umno and Barisan Nasional was charged with receiving the amount from former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak through cheques between April, 2014 and February, 2015.

In the first charge made at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur, Hafarizam was accused of accepting RM11.5 million, allegedly the proceeds of unlawful activity through two cheques which went into the client account of Messrs. Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak held in CIMB Bank Berhad account.

Hafarizam allegedly committed the offence at CIMB Bank PWTC branch in Kuala Lumpur between April 16, 2014 and Nov 4, 2014.

For the second charge, he was accused of receiving proceeds of unlawful activity in the sum of RM3.5 million through a cheque which went into the same account on Feb 12, 2015.

Hafarizam allegedly committed the offence at the same bank and location.

He was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 which provides for imprisonment not exceeding 15 years and fine upon conviction.

Sessions courts judge Azman Ahmad allowed bail at RM500,000 with one surety.

Counsel Hasnal Rezua Merican represented Hafarizam.

Case mention was fixed for March 25.