Gopal Sri Ram also received money from 1MDB
Gopal Sri Ram also received his legal fee from the alleged 1MDB fund for representing Semarak Konsortium in 2013. However, why was there no action taken against him like in the cases of Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Mohd. Hafarizam Harun? Does this not make Gopal Sri Ram equally guilty of receiving funds from 1MDB? So why is he not also facing trial?
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
In 2018, 25 charges related to RM 2.6 billion 1MDB funds were preferred against Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak (“1MDB Trial”). A total of 21 charges are for money laundering offences under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001. These charges include nine counts for receiving illegal monies, five counts for using illegal funds and seven counts for transferring illicit funds to other entities. The remaining 4 charges are for abuse of power under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
For one of the 21 charges for money laundering, Najib was accused of utilising or transferring funds in the sum of RM303,000 to Semarak Konsortium Satu Sdn Bhd on 14th August 2013.
Gopal Sri Ram was appointed as the lead counsel for the 1MDB Trial and the lead counsel representing Najib is Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
In the same year, Najib’s lawyer, namely Muhammad Shafee, was charged with two counts of money laundering. He is alleged to have involved himself in money laundering activities by receiving monies via two cheques belonging to Najib totalling RM4.3 million and RM5.2 million respectively, on 13 September 2013 and 17 February 2014. Muhammad Shafee contended that the RM 9.5 million was for the legal fees.
In 2019, Umno legal adviser Mohd. Hafarizam Harun claimed trial to three money laundering charges involving RM15 million legal fees he received from Najib in 2014 and 2015. The cheques for the said amount were alleged to have been deposited into his law firm’s account with CIMB Berhad and AmIslamic Bank.
Interestingly, in 2013, Gopal Sri Ram represented Semarak Konsortium in the civil appeal no. W-02(NCVC)(W)-2223-10/2013, Urban Hallmark Properties Sdn Bhd v. Semarak Konsortium Satu Sdn Bhd in 2013 (SEE BELOW). It was the same year that Semarak Konsortium Satu Sdn Bhd received RM303,000.00 via cheque from Najib on 14th August 2013. It was also reported that Semarak Konsortium Satu Sdn Bhd received a total of RM19.59 million between 2011 to 2013 from Najib.
Gopal Sri Ram also received his legal fee from the alleged 1MDB fund for representing Semarak Konsortium in 2013. However, why was there no action taken against him like in the cases of Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Mohd. Hafarizam Harun? Does this not make Gopal Sri Ram equally guilty of receiving funds from 1MDB? So why is he not also facing trial?
