Wan Saiful slapped with 18 money laundering charges involving RM5.59m

Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan has claimed trial to 18 counts of money laundering charges, involving funds totalling around RM5.59 million.

Wan Saiful pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read out to him before Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin.

Previously, he claimed trial to two graft charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme.

The prosecution has applied to try both cases together and it was approved by Suzana - with the next trial date set for Dec 1.

The 18 charges today accused Wan Saiful, in his capacity as director of WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd, of using his company's accounts to launder funds from allegedly illegal activities.

Four of the charges alleged that Wan Saiful channelled illegal proceeds totalling RM 3.17 million through WSA Advisory into his own accounts.

This includes an alleged RM2.3 million transfer, via two cheques, issued into his own accounts in late August last year.

Meanwhile, Wan Saiful was also accused of transferring RM78,800 of illegal proceeds through WSA Advisory Group to facilitate the purchase of a Ford Ranger on Aug 12, 2022

The other 13 charges involving alleged laundering of illegal proceeds totalling RM2.31 million are related to transfers of allegedly illegal proceeds from the company's accounts to other companies, organisations and individuals.

Three of these payments were made between Aug 22 and Oct 5 last year to Jendela Timur Consultant (RM400,000), Duckling Management & Services (RM300,000) and Fendi Dilif Resources (RM400,000).

The other payments were made between Oct 10 and Nov 7, 2022.

The recipients of these payments were:

• Pertubuhan Penggerak Muafakat Bagan Seberang Perai Utara (RM36,550)

• National Sports Council (RM180,000)

• PYI Global Trading (RM120,000)

• Jejak Global Enterprise (RM425,650)

• Fokus Malaysia Studios (RM176,380)

• Chin Kang Hardware Jitra (RM88,000)

• Syed Jaafar Syed Abd Aziz (RM33,521)

• Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd (RM38,160)

• Akademi Gagasan Minda Merdeka (RM100,000)

• Good Square Sdn Bhd (RM46,487.85)

The charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amlafta).

If convicted, he can be imprisoned for up to 15 years and fined five times the amount involved, or a minimum of RM5 million.

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