Shafee hit with four charges over RM9.5m from Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — Prominent lawyer Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah claimed trial to four charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001(AMLA) at the Sessions Court here today.

In the first charge, Shafee was accused of receiving unlawful proceeds in the form of an AmIslamic cheque of RM4.3 million into his bank account on Sept 13 2013, from then prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, proffered under Section 4(1)(a) of the AMLA.

In the second charge for an offence under the same section, Shafee was accused of receiving another cheque of the same nature and from the same sender on Feb 17 2014, this time amounting to RM5.2 million.

He was accused of committing these two offences, during their respective times, at the Bukit Tunku CIMB bank outlet.

Shafee was accused in the third charge of not declaring his earnings accurately for the financial year that ended on Dec 31 2013, in which he did not include the RM4.3 million in his tax filings.

For the fourth charge, Shafee is accused of not declaring his earnings accurately by omitting the RM5.2 million in his 2014 tax filing.

Both the third and fourth charges, although violations under the Income Tax Act 1967, are also punishable under Section 4(1)(a) of the AMLA.

Shafee was accused of committing both offences at the Kuala Lumpur Inland Board Revenue office during their respective times.

He pleaded not guilty to all four charges, after they were read to him Malay.

Judge Azura Alwi then set bail at RM1 million, but allowed this to be paid in two instalment, half today and half by Sept 18, with two sureties.

Azura also ordered for both Shafee’s regular and diplomatic passports to be seized by the court during the length of the case.

Datuk Seri Sri Gopal Sri Ram is the lead prosecutor over the case, while Harvinderjit Singh leads the defence team.

The judge then set Oct 2 as the next date for submission of documents.