KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 1): The money-laundering and bribery charges against former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan will all be heard in one court, after the Sessions Court allowed the application by the prosecution.
Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob allowed the application by deputy public prosecutor Mohd ‘Afif Ali to have the money-laundering charges transferred to her court, to be heard together with the bribery charges.
Wan Saiful’s lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad did not object to the application.
Wan Saiful had claimed trial to 18 counts of money laundering amounting to RM5.594 million before Sessions Court judge Suzana Hussin in October.
Earlier in February, he was charged with two charges before Rozina for soliciting and accepting bribes amounting to RM6.9 million.
The charges can be heard together because they are linked.
The Tasek Gelugor Member of Parliament allegedly received RM6.96 million into an account of WSA Advisory Group Sdn Bhd, where he is a director, and solicited RM232 million over the Central Spine Road project from the federal government.
The charges of money laundering are in relation to graft allegedly received, where Wan Saiful is said to have committed money laundering between Aug 12, to Nov 7, 2022 by using the funds from WSA Advisory.
Among recipients of the alleged illegal money included Wan Saiful himself, Tagami Auto Enterprise Sdn Bhd (for the purchase of a Ford Ranger), Syarikat Jendela Timur Consultant, Duckling Management and Services, Fendi Dilif Resources, and non-governmental organisation Pertubuhan Penggerak Muafakat Bagan, Seberang Perai Utara.
Others included PYI Global Trading, Jejak Global Enterprise, Fokus Malaysia Studios, National Sports Council and Chin Kang Hardware in Jitra, to a person by the name of Syed Jaafar Syed Abdul Aziz, as well as to Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd, Akademi Gagasan Minda Merdeka, and Good Square Sdn Bhd.
The alleged illegal money was paid via cheque from WSA Advisory to these entities. If found guilty, Wan Saiful stands to face a maximum 15 years in prison, or a fine of up to five times the money laundered or RM5 million, whichever is higher.
During the case management on Friday, ‘Afif said that the prosecution intends to call 32 witnesses to testify.
Rozina, meanwhile, said that the trial will still commence on March 25 next year, as was set earlier by her.
She previously fixed March 25 and 27, April 29 and 30, and May 20 to 22 next year as hearing dates.
She added more dates on Friday, namely June 19 to 21 and 24 to 25, July 10 to 12, and Aug 8 and 9.