KUALA LUMPUR: Former Perlis mentri besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man has been slapped with a further five charges of receiving proceeds from illegal activity amounting to RM1.06mil.
The 64-year-old pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi.
“I plead not guilty and claim trial,” he said here yesterday.
On Monday, Azlan pleaded not guilty at the Kangar Sessions court to five counts of false claims amounting to RM1.18mil between 2013 and 2017.
According to the charges preferred yesterday, Azlan allegedly received proceeds from illegal activity – RM208,339.90; RM196,651.00; RM224,404.40; RM222,811.95 and RM207,468.00 – from Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd, Aidil Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd and one Abdul Rahim Halim who represented Aidil Travel.
All of the money were allegedly received by the accused through three cheques, another cheque that was deposited into two bank accounts belonging to the accused, and cash from Abdul Rahim.
Claiming trial: Azlan being led out of court after the charges were read at the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur. — ART CHEN/The Star
Azlan is accused of committing the offences at Maybank Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, CIMB Bank Putrajaya and Sheraton Imperial Hotel here between Feb 19, 2014 and December, 2017.
He is charged under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
If convicted, Azlan faces a maximum 15 years in jail and a fine of at least five times the amount of gratification or RM5mil, whichever is higher.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told the court that the offence was non-bailable.
“However, we do not object if the court wishes to exercise its discretion to release the accused on bail and we therefore offer RM50,000 in one surety,” DPP Ahmad Akram said.
The DPP also said that Azlan’s passport had been surrendered to the Kangar Sessions court on Monday.
The prosecution also informed the court that it would seek to have Azlan’s case in Perlis to be tried together with the Kuala Lumpur case.
Azlan’s lawyer Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid agreed with the bail amount offered by the prosecution. Azura then fixed bail at RM50,000 in one surety and fixed June 9 for mention.
