Riza Aziz arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court July 4, 2019. — Picture by Miera Zulyana
KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, the co-founder of the Hollywood production house behind the Wolf of Wall Street, today claimed trial to five money laundering charges of US$248 million allegedly misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
The Red Granite Pictures producer, the son of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and stepson to her husband and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is the third person in the family to be charged.
Najib and Rosmah are already facing a litany of similar money-laundering and other corruption charges.
Riza arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex at about 8.15am while his step-siblings, Nooryana Najwa Najib and Norashman Najib, were spotted as early as 8.30am in the premises.
Riza was arrested yesterday at noon by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), but was released on bail the same day.
His charges were read out before Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob.
Riza pleaded not guilty to each of the five charges under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (AMLATFA).
“Understand. Not guilty. Claim trial,” he said in a clear and calm voice as each of the charges were read out.
Each of the charges are punishable with a maximum RM5 million fine or maximum five-year jail term or both.
The prosecution team was represented by Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram and Ahmad Akram Gharib.
Riza’s defence lawyers included Datuk K. Kumaraendran and Datuk Geethan Ram Vincent, who also represented Rosmah when she was charged.
Others on Riza’s eight-man defence team included Datuk Hariharan Tara Singh and Azrul Zulkifli Stork, while lawyer Muhammad Farhan Shafee held a watching brief for Najib.
Nooryana Najwa Najib is seen at the Kuala Lumpur High Court July 5, 2019. — Bernama pic
Sri Ram proposed bail to be set at RM1 million with two bailors and with Riza’s passport to be surrendered to the court.
Hariharan told the court that their client accepts the bail amount offered. But Kumaraendran pled for time, suggesting payment of the RM1 million bail in instalments with RM500,000 to be paid today and the rest to be paid by next Monday or Tuesday.
The judge however disagreed with the request for the RM1 million bail to be paid in instalments.
“It’s not practical for the administration of the court... It’s still early morning, I think you can raise that amount,” Rozina said.
Sri Ram also stood up to oppose the payment by instalment.
Riza then informed the judge that he has “no valid passport”, while Kumaraendran said there is already a travel ban imposed on his client.
The judge then granted bail at RM1 million with two Malaysians as bailors, and for his passport to be surrendered to the court and for a travel ban to be imposed on him until a decision is reached in this money-laundering case.
The court fixed August 9 for mention.
The entire case’s proceedings, which started a few minutes after 9am, ended in about 20 minutes.
MORE TO COME
