Wan Saiful charged with 18 counts of money laundering amounting to RM5.59 million

KUALA LUMPUR - Former Bersatu information chief, Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who was previously charged with corruption in relation to the Jana Wibawa project, was again brought before the Sessions Court here today on 18 counts of money laundering, involving RM5.59 million, last year.

Wan Saiful, 48, in a black suit, pleaded not guilty after all the charges were read separately before Judge Suzana Hussin.

Wan Saiful faces 13 charges of transferring proceeds from illegal activities, amounting to RM1.6 million, and five other charges of using illegal money, amounting to RM3.9 million.

According to the charge sheet, Wan Saiful, as the director of WA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd, was charged with transferring money from illegal activities, amounting to RM78,800, from the company's CIMB Bank Berhad account to the Public Bank Berhad account of Tagami Auto Enterprise Sdn Bhd, as payment for the purchase of a Ford Ranger.

He was also charged with 12 counts of transferring money, as a result of illegal activities, from the WSA Advisory Group's CIMB Bank account to the CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad account (RM291,564.96) Malayan Banking Berhad account (RM49,000) belonging to the accused; Bank Rakyat account belonging to the Pertubuhan Penggerak Muafakat Bagan Seberang Perai Utara (RM36,550) and RM180,000 paid to the National Sports Council.

The money, believed from the illegal activities, was also transferred to the CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad accounts belonging to PYI Global Trading (RM120,000) and Jejak Global Enterprise (RM425,650); Ambank Berhad account belonging to Fokus Malaysia Studios (RM176,380); Maybank Islamic Berhad account belonging to Chin Kang Hardware Jitra (RM88,000); CIMB Bank Berhad account belonging to a man (RM33,521); Malayan Banking Berhad account belonging to Syarikat Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd (RM38,160); Maybank Islamic Berhad account belonging to Akademi Gagasan Minda Merdeka (RM100,000) and Hong Leong Bank account belonging to Good Square Sdn Bhd (RM46,487.85).

Wan Saiful was also charged with five counts of using money from illegal activities through CIMB Bank Berhad cheques, worth RM2.3 million and RM530,471.46, belonging to the accused's company, to his CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad account; one cheque worth RM400,000 paid to Syarikat Jendela Timur Consultant, and two cheques, worth RM300,000 and RM400,000 respectively, paid to Duckling Management & Services and Fendi Dilif Resources.

All the offences were allegedly committed at CIMB Bank Berhad Bukit Tunku branch here, between Aug 12 and Nov 13, 2022, and 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).

The section provides imprisonment of up to 15 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification, or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.

Deputy public prosecutor Farah Ezlin Yusop Khan proposed that the court apply bail of RM400,000 in one surety which was set for the accused's previous predicate case in the 8th Criminal Sessions Court.

She said the accused had previously also been subject to additional conditions such as surrendering his passports to the court and reporting to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office every two months.

"Therefore, the prosecution requests that this court apply the bail and additional conditions set previously and we also request that the case be transferred to Criminal Sessions Court 8, to be heard together. The predicate case is set for mention on Dec 1," said Farah Ezlin, adding that the defence did not object to the application.

Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing Wan Saiful, confirmed that the defence did not object to the suggestion made.

Judge Suzana allowed the application for bail and additional conditions and transferred the case to Criminal Sessions Court 8 for joint trial.

On Feb 21, Wan Saiful claimed trial in the Sessions Court here to two charges of soliciting and receiving bribes amounting to RM6.9 million related to the Jana Wibawa project. - BERNAMA