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KUALA LUMPUR – The money laundering case involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s former media adviser, Paul Stadlen, has been withdrawn after he agreed to voluntarily release RM7,192,873.84 to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said in a statement today that the money would be transferred into 1MDB’s account.
According to the commission, based on an agreement by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, a settlement had been agreed upon involving Stadlen and Umno legal adviser Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, who had been charged with money laundering involving RM15 million.
“The matter was decided after taking into account that the amount was justified to be forfeited. As such, the case against Stadlen was withdrawn.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers also decided a compound under Section 92(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA), amounting to RM590,587.26 be imposed on Hafarizam after taking into account reasonable grounds, including withdrawal of the case against Stadlen.
“The charges against Hafarizam were withdrawn after the compound was paid,” it said.
Stadlen was charged in absentia in the magistrates court here on February 20, 2019, with two counts of money laundering amounting to RM15 million.
On the first count, he was alleged to have ordered payments, through 27 transactions, involving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM8,111,322.43 from an account of a client of the legal firm Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, to several individuals and companies between June and December 2014.
The second charge was for allegedly ordering the transfer of RM6,139,078.34 in proceeds from unlawful activities through 16 transactions, from the account of the same legal firm to several individuals and companies between January and August, 2015.
Both the charges were framed under Section 4(1)(b) of AMLATFPUAA, which provides an imprisonment for up to 15 years or a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the proceeds from unlawful activities, or RM5 million, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
Today, the sessions court here acquitted and discharged Hafarizam on the three money laundering charges for money he allegedly received from Najib. – Bernama, July 30, 2021
