KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak today claimed trial at the High Court here to three charges of receiving RM42 million from illegal proceeds.
The former prime minister pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out to him in the packed High Court.
Earlier today, he was charged at the Sessions Court, where his plea was not recorded.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi allowed the prosecution’s application to transfer the case to the High Court.
High Court judge Datuk Azman Abdullah allowed the prosecution’s application to transfer the case to another High Court, where Najib faced four existing charges.
In the three fresh charges, Najib was alleged to have received RM27 million, RM5 million and RM10 million, which were purportedly proceeds from illegal activities, at an AmIslamic Bank branch at Jalan Raja Chulan here between Dec 26, 2014, and Feb 10, 2015.
He allegedly received the proceeds via electronic funds transfer.
He was charged under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFA) 2001.
Najib faces a maximum 15 years in jail and not less than five times the amount of proceeds involved, or a RM5 million fine, whichever is higher, if convicted.
Proceedings at the other High Court before Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali is expected to proceed today.
Najib was represented by a legal team led by veteran lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
The prosecution team comprised of deputy public prosecutors Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria, Manoj Kurup, and Datuk Suhaimi Ibrahim among others.
Also present was lawyer Datuk K. Kumaraendran, who was holding a watching brief for Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
On July 4, Najib, who is Pekan member of Parliament, claimed trial on three counts of criminal breach of trust and another charge of abuse of power.
The four charges involve RM42 million linked to SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).