Najib’s stepson in court, faces five money-laundering charges
Riza Aziz, the stepson of former premier Najib Abdul Razak, was slapped with five counts of money laundering at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court this morning for allegedly receiving illegal proceeds originating from 1MDB.
According to the charges read to him before Rozina Ayob, Riza allegedly received a total of US$248 million (RM1.03 billion) on five occasions between 2011 and 2012...
Riza Aziz, the stepson of former premier Najib Abdul Razak, was slapped with five counts of money laundering at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court this morning for allegedly receiving illegal proceeds originating from 1MDB.
According to the charges read to him before Rozina Ayob, Riza allegedly received a total of US$248 million (RM1.03 billion) on five occasions between 2011 and 2012.
He is accused of committing the offences by receiving the money through the bank account of Red Granite, the Hollywood production company he co-founded.
Riza was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
In the first charge, he is accused of receiving US$1.12 million (RM4.64 million) through a money transfer transaction from a bank account belonging to Good Star Ltd between April 12 and May 12, 2011.
He was accused of committing the offence at the City National Bank in Los Angeles, California.
For the second charge, Riza is accused of receiving US$9 million (RM37.26 million), also from Good Star, at the same bank between Sept 10 and Oct 10, 2012.
The third, fourth and fifth charges state that Riza allegedly received US$133 million (RM550.55 million), US$60 million (RM248.37 million) and US$45 million (RM186.28 million) from a bank account belonging to Aabar Investments PJS Ltd.
He is accused of committing the three offences at BSI Bank Ltd at Suntec Tower 1 in Singapore on June 18, Oct 23, and Nov 14, 2012, respectively.
Under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act, anyone found guilty of committing an offence under Section 4(1)(a) is punishable with a maximum jail sentence of five years, an RM5 million fine, or both.
”I plead not guilty and request for a trial,” Riza said from the dock to all the charges read to him. His half-siblings Norashman Najib and Nooryana Najwa were seated at the public gallery behind him.
Following Riza's non-guilty pleas, the prosecution, led by former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram, offered an RM1 million bail with two sureties to the accused.
Gopal (photo) also suggested for the court to set additional conditions for Riza to surrender all his passports to the court.
Lawyer Hariharan Singh said that the defence has no objection to the bail, but his co-counsel K Kumaraendran made an application to the court to allow for the bail to be posted in two instalments.
Kumaraendran told the court that they have raised RM500,000, and asked for permission to pay the remaining sum next week. However, the application was opposed by the prosecution.
After hearing submissions from both parties, the judge then imposed RM1 million bail with two sureties, and for Riza to surrender his passports.
On Kumaraendran's application, Rozina told the defence that they still have time to raise the remaining RM500,000, as the day was young.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.