Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and former Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad will face charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. — Picture by Mukhriz Hazim

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and former Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad would face charges for alleged money laundering offences in the Sessions Court tomorrow, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said today.

MACC said both men would face charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

According to MACC, Ahmad will face two charges while Shahrir faces one charge under the Act.

“MACC has obtained permission to charge Shahrir and Ahmad on January 21, 9am at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court,” it said in a statement.

It added that both Shahrir and Ahmad were detained at 11.22am and 10.10am respectively after they presented themselves to MACC’s headquarters in Putrajaya to complete the final investigation process.

Both men were later released on bail.

MACC also refused to elaborate on the nature of their alleged offence, only stating that it would be made known in court.

Previously, MACC had issued compounds to Shahrir, Ahmad as well as other individuals and organisations in demanding them to pay up funds that they said to have received RM420 million of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds from Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Chief commissioner Latheefa Koya had said that those who refused to pay the alleged 1MDB money will face prosecution in court.

Both men filed separate applications for judicial review to challenge the compound notices issued last October, naming the MACC chief commissioner and the MACC as respondents

The High Court will only hear their bid to initiate the challenge on MACC on February 26.

It was reported that in 2015, Shahrir, formerly the Johor Baru member of Parliament (MP), admitted receiving RM1 million from Najib and said it was normal to receive such funds from the Umno president.

Ahmad in October last year denied receiving funds from 1MDB and was quoted to have shown the police and the MACC evidence that he did not receive such money.

Ahmad previously served as the deputy finance minister and later the deputy international trade and industry minister under the previous Barisan Nasional government.