The Sessions Court has fixed Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 16, Oct 23, Nov 6 and Nov 24 for trial

by RAHIMI YUNUS / pic by BERNAMA

DATUK Seri Ahmad Maslan (picture) has withdrawn his appeal against a Sessions Court’s decision that dismissed his application to drop the money laundering and giving false statement charges that are levelled against him.

An attorney representing Ahmad, Atiqa Nazihah Azmi, told the Kuala Lumpur High Court during a case management yesterday that her client decided to withdraw the appeal against the Sessions Court’s ruling in a notice that was filed on Aug 3.

Deputy public prosecutor Mahadi Abdul Jumaat confirmed that the prosecution had received the notice and it did not object to the application.

Judicial commissioner Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin then withdrew the appeal made by Ahmad following the notice.

Ahmad has been charged with money laundering by failing to declare incomes which allegedly originated from criminal activities.

The Pontian MP is accused under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 after failing to declare earnings of RM2 million allegedly received from former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak via a cheque dated Nov 27, 2013.

He is also charged with another count of money laundering for giving false statements to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over the alleged offence during the investigation.

On July 24, the Sessions Court dismissed Ahmad’s application to strike out the charges on grounds that his bid was premature and the charges were not defective.

The court then fixed Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct16andOct23,Nov6andNov 24 for trial.

On Aug 14, Ahmad failed once again in trying to strike out the charges when the High Court dismissed his application for a revision of a lower court’s decision in dismissing his application to drop the charges.

The High Court dismissed the application after finding that there was no mistake by the Sessions Court in dismissing Ahmad’s application to quash the charges.

Ahmad, who was a former deputy international trade and industry minister, is facing a maximum fine of RM5 million or a maximum five-year jail sentence, or both, if convicted.