Bernama reported that a three-judge panel comprising Justices Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim, Zaini Mazlan and Noorin Badaruddin dismissed Amirruddin Nin’s appeal to overturn his one-day prison sentence and RM100,000 fine on one of the three charges he had initially faced.
The 55-year-old was initially convicted by the sessions court on July 14, 2022 on three charges of failing to attend an investigation by the SC under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The appellate court allowed the prosecution’s appeal to reinstate Amirruddin’s conviction, prison terms and fines on the two other charges, which the High Court had set aside.
It also restored a daily fine of RM2,000 for his continued failure to comply with the SC order for 979 days, amounting to a total fine of RM1,958,000, in default of 12 months in prison.
In delivering the court’s unanimous decision, Noorin said Amirruddin had been specifically directed by the SC to attend the investigation at a specific time, date and place.
“Therefore, the three charges against him for non-compliance with the order cannot be treated as a continuous offence,” she said.
She also said Amirruddin’s overall conduct clearly demonstrated that he was avoiding the order.
In 2022, the sessions court had found Amirruddin guilty of failing to attend a money-laundering investigation conducted by the SC on three separate occasions in 2017 and 2018.
He was sentenced to one day in jail and a fine of RM100,000 in default six months’ jail, on each of the three charges.
The sessions court ordered Amirruddin to pay a daily fine of RM2,000, amounting to RM1,958,000 in total, in default 12 months’ jail, for his continued non-compliance to appear for the investigation.
The court, however, allowed his application for a stay of execution of the RM1,958,000 fine until his appeal was heard.
In 2023, the High Court upheld Amirruddin’s conviction and sentence on the first charge, but set aside the sentences on the second and third charges.
The High Court also reversed the sessions court’s order for Amirruddin to pay the daily fine. Both Amirruddin and the prosecution subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal.
Amirruddin has already served the prison sentence and paid the RM300,000 fine on the three charges.
Lawyers Amer Hamzah Arshad, Joshua Tay and Lee Yee Woei represented Amirruddin while SC deputy public prosecutors Hashley Tajudin, Jonathan Chin and Keith Loo appeared for the prosecution.