KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here yesterday upheld the Sessions Court’s decision to acquit and discharge a lawyer of nine charges including receiving, transferring and using RM6.5 million in funds allegedly derived from illegal activities, six years ago. Judge K. Muniandy made the ruling after dismissing the prosecution’s appeal against the decision of the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Nov 30, 2022, which acquitted and discharged M. Pathmarajah, 67.
In his judgement, Muniandy said that the Sessions Court judge decided to acquit and discharge Pathmarajah as the appellant (prosecution) had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
“This court finds that the order to discharge the accused person by the Session Court judge is correct and this court has no reason to change or interfere with the decision made by the Sessions Court judge.
Therefore, the appellant’s (prosecution) appeal was dismissed,” he said.
The prosecution was conducted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Norazihah Asmuni while the respondent was represented by counsel Datuk C. Vignesh Kumar.
The prosecution filed an appeal against the decision of the Sessions Court Judge on Nov 30, 2022, which acquitted and discharged Pathmarajah of money laundering charges at the end of the prosecution case. A total of 24 prosecution witnesses testified at the trial.
On April 7, 2021, Pathmarajah, a partner of law firm Messrs. Mazwan Pathma & Co, was charged with three counts of receiving RM3,735,200, RM640,070 and RM2,161,330 believed to be proceeds of illegal activities, through four cheques deposited into two current accounts belonging to the law firm.
He was accused of committing the offences at the branches of Malayan Banking Berhad and Public Bank Berhad in Jalan Maarof, Bangsar Baru here, between Aug 8, 2017 and Feb 12, 2018. – BERNAMA
