Sessions Court here set Mohd Fauzi Ismail free

Suspended division head acquitted of money-laundering charge
By IAN MCINTYRE

KOTA BARU: Suspended Kubang Kerian Umno division head Mohd Fauzi Ismail shed tears of joy Tuesday after the Sessions Court here set him free, without his defence being called, of two counts of money laundering amounting to RM138,210.

Mohd Fauzi who was suspended for the last two years pending the court decision was carried by his supporters after Judge Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh announced his decision before a packed courtroom.

Mohd Fauzi was charged under the Anti Money-Laundering Act 2001 where he could be fined up to RM5mil or go to jail for five years, or both.

He was alleged to have received the sum for the purpose of money laundering from proceeds earned through illegal activities.

He was charged with receiving the sum from associates, Mohamed Syahbuddin Hashim at Sultan Mohamed IV Stadium here on Jan 5, 2005 and Wan Ibrahim Wan Setapa at the division’s office four days later.

Che Mohamad Zulkifly said the prosecution led by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) failed to prove “prima facie” in the case while there were serious contradictions detected in the testimonies of witnessess.

Che Mohamad Zulkifly also ruled that there were doubts whether the money given to the defendant was derived from illegal activities.