I lodged report against Shafee over RM9.5mil payment, says MACC officer

 

Lawyer Shafee Abdullah deposited RM9.5 million he received from Najib Razak into his personal account, says an MACC officer. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officer told the High Court in Shafee Abdullah’s RM9.5 million money laundering trial he lodged an MACC report to kickstart an investigation against the lawyer.

Farid Jabar said he lodged the report on Sept 4, 2018, so an investigation could be initiated against Shafee for receiving RM9.5 million from former prime minister Najib Razak.

He said the probe was subsequently carried out under the MACC Act and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla).

“The focus of my investigation centred on the RM9.5 million received between Sept 13, 2013 and Feb 17, 2014,” Farid said.

“He (Shafee) said he met Datuk Seri Najib on two occasions – in September 2013 and February 2014 – at the prime minister’s office.

“Datuk Seri Najib passed him the two cheques amounting to RM9.5 million.”

Farid said that based on his investigation, the RM9.5 million was not deposited into the account of Shafee’s law firm but into his personal account.

“The RM9.5 million was the legal fees for Shafee in representing Barisan Nasional (BN) in 46 election petition cases from 2004 to 2006.

“The payment was an accrued income and is taxable. It was not reported to LHDN (Inland Revenue Board),” he said.

He said that based on tax records, Shafee did not declare the RM9.5 million in his 2014 or 2015 tax returns.

Shafee is standing trial on four counts of money laundering involving the said amount.

The prosecution alleges that he had breached Section 4(1)(a) of Amla by receiving proceeds from unlawful activities as well as making inaccurate statements to LHDN for the 2013 and 2014 assessment years.

Earlier today, the court heard testimony from former LHDN officer Syed Nasrul Fahmi Syed Mohamad.

Under cross-examination by fellow lawyer Harvinderjit Singh, Syed Nasrul said he did not record statements from Najib or any BN representative on the RM9.5 million payment.

He said LHDN also commenced a civil investigation against Shafee on the receipt of the money.

“I didn’t see a need to record their statements,” he said, adding that the standard of proof in civil cases was lower than for criminal cases.

The hearing before trial judge Jamil Hussin continues on April 27, when Harvinderjit will also cross-examine Farid. - FMT