THE money laundering trial of Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah has been transferred from the sessions court to the high court.

Justice Azman Abdullah allowed the transfer after both parties agreed to an application by Shafee, who said the case involved the Anti-Money Laundering act may be too complicated for the lower courts.

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz did not object to the transfer, which has been fixed for mention at the sessions court on October 8.

Shafee was represented by Havinderjit Singh and Sarah Abishegam.

He is claiming trial to two counts of money laundering and two counts of making false statements in relation to RM9.5 million allegedly paid to him by former prime minister Najib Razak.

The amount was alleged transferred to Shafee in two tranches on September 13, 2013 and February 17, 2014. Shafee also faces two counts of tax offences by not declaring the income to the Inland Revenue Board in 2015.

If found guilty under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amlapau), Shafee faces a maximum jail term of five years, a fine of up to RM5 million or both.

Shafee was ad hoc prosecutor in the second trial of Anwar Ibrahim, who said he had received an affidavit from an officer from the Attorney-General’s Chambers that the Shafee received the money.

Shafee, who previously called the claims “nonsense”, denied that he was paid the amount to prosecute Anwar and said it was for services rendered to Umno and Barisan Nasional over a decade. – October 3, 2018.