20 witnesses to testify against ex-Perlis MB in RM1.18m false claims case

Prosecutors are set to call 20 witnesses in the RM1.185 million false claims and money laundering trial against former Perlis menteri besar Azlan Man set for nine days next year.

Deputy public prosecutor Noralis Mat Rasyidah Azmi Kalai informed the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court this morning on the number of prosecution witnesses set to testify against the accused.

“20 witnesses would be called,” the DPP informed judge Azura Alwi, who is set to preside over the trial of the 10 criminal charges against Azlan (above).

Azura then set nine days in 2024 for the full trial: July 18 and 19, Aug 1 and 2, as well as Aug 19, 23, and 24.

Meanwhile, as Azlan looked on from the dock during the open-court mention of his case, Noralis informed Azura that the defence team had emailed their representation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) yesterday.

Noralis said that she had just received the representation this morning and that she needed to discuss it further with the attorney-general on whether to accede or reject the representation.

Under the law, a letter of representation is a method for the accused to seek prosecutors to review the criminal case against him or her, such as dropping the charges or for the accused to plead guilty to a lesser charge.

Azlan’s counsel Burhanudeen Abdul Wahid confirmed they emailed the representation to prosecutors yesterday.

The lawyer then apologised as the defence team needed to look at various documents to prepare the representation.

Noralis then informed the court that both the prosecution and defence teams agreed for Jan 12 to be set for mention to update on whether the AGC accepts or otherwise the representation.

Azura then fixed Jan 12 for mention.

On June 9, Azlan’s defence team informed the court that they intended to file the representation.

The charges

On April 10, before the Kangar Sessions Court, Azlan claimed trial for five charges of submitting false claims involving RM1.185 million during his trip to the United Kingdom.

Two days later, before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, the accused pleaded not guilty to five counts of money laundering involving RM1,059,675.25.

In relation to the false claims charges, he was alleged to have committed the offence between December 2013 and Dec 14, 2017.

The false claims charges were framed under Section 18 of the MACC Act 2009, and are punishable under Section 24(2) of the Act, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine not less than five times of the amount involved.

In relation to the money laundering charges, the offences were allegedly committed between Feb 19, 2014, and December 2017.

Money laundering involves concealing the origins of illegally obtained money, typically via transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses.

The five money laundering charges are framed under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amlatfpuaa).

Azlan faces a maximum jail term of five years and a fine not less than five times the unlawful proceeds amount or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

All the false claims and money laundering offences allegedly involved two companies, namely Sri Kedawang Travel & Tours (W) Sdn Bhd and Aidil Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd.

Azlan’s false claims case has since been transferred to the Kuala Lumpur criminal court for joint trial with the money laundering case.

The 64-year-old accused was the Pauh assemblyperson from 2013 to 2018. He then held the Bintong seat from 2018 until 2022.

His bid to retain the seat during the 2022 general election was unsuccessful, thus ending his two-term run as menteri besar.

Azlan’s appointment as Perlis MB after the 14th general election sparked controversy as four BN assemblypersons refused to support him, creating a crisis of legitimacy.

However, the elected representatives retracted their boycott soon after and joined Azlan’s administration.

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