Riza Aziz charged for laundering 1MDB funds
PUCHONG: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s stepson, Riza Aziz today claimed trial to five counts of money laundering charges of funds allegedly belonging to 1MDB.
The charges, all under the Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, were read out in front of Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob.
If found guilty, Riza faces a fine of not more than RM5 million or a five year jail sentence, or both.
Riza pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the charge sheets, Riza was said to have received a total of US$ 248 million on five occasions between 2011 and 2012.
Riza, who owns a production company called Red Granite, was accused of receiving the money through Good Star Ltd, a company owned by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho.
The prosecution team was represented by Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram and Ahmad Akram Gharib.
Riza’s defence lawyers were Datuk K. Kumaraendran and Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent.
Bail was set at RM1 million.
Kumaraendran requested that the bail to be paid in installments but Gopal objected to it. Thus, Rozina asked Riza to post bail by end of the day.
Earlier, Riza arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex at about 8am. Also present were his step-sibling Nooryana Najwa Najib and Norashman Najib.
He was arrested yesterday afternoon by the MACC but was released on bail on the same day.
