Riza Aziz applies to transfer money laundering case to High Court
KUALA LUMPUR: Riza Aziz’s lawyers have applied to transfer his five charges of laundering US$248 million (RM1.2 billion) of 1MDB funds to High Court today.
Defence lawyer Syazwani Mohd Zawawi argued that the case was complex and would take some amount of time if it were to remain in the Sessions Court.
“This is because the charges faced by Riza are said to have happened overseas. However, he is being charged here,” she said.
The stepson of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was charged on July 5 with receiving US$248 million between 2011 and 2012, funds allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB.
Riza is accused of using the funds to finance US movie production firm Red Granite Pictures, which he co-founded.
He claimed trial to all five charges proffered under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (AMLATFA), each punishable by a maximum RM5 million fine, up to five years’ imprisonment, or both.
While Riza’s charges relate to transactions occurring outside of Malaysia, local laws against money-laundering allow for such offences to be tried in Malaysian courts.
