SHAFEE Abdullah’s criminal charges today could risk his job as Najib Razak’s defence lawyer in the SRC International case as there are potential conflicts of interest in both their cases, said lawyer Sankara Nair.

The prominent Umno lawyer claimed trial to four charges of money laundering and tax offences under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (AMLA).

The charges are related to two payments he received in 2013 and 2014 amounting to RM9.5 million.

“It  would definitely complicate matters for him… especially in his locus as lawyer defending Najib as the transactions appear connected to 1MDB. There are several conflicts of interests, too,” said Sankara, who represented PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim in two sodomy trials.

Najib has been accused by US investigators of receiving RM2.6 billion into his personal bank account just before the 2013 general election. The former prime minister now faces a trial over alleged wrongdoing involving RM42 million linked to SRC International, a subsidiary of scandal-mired state investor fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Anwar had said that he received a sworn affidavit by an Attorney-General’s Chambers officer that the money was from Najib when the latter was prime minister.

“I suspect the predicate offence begins with 1MDB’s RM2.6 billion then AMLA will automatically be triggered to whomsoever any sums are paid out from the original RM2.6 billion,” Sankara said.

“That is why Shafee’s account was frozen and I am sure other persons who received sums from the RM2.6 billion would have had their accounts frozen too,” he added.

But the Umno lawyer is still able to continue representing Najib in his SRC International criminal proceedings, or any other future proceedings involving 1MDB, said constitutional lawyer Lim Wei Jiet.

“After all, anyone is innocent until proven guilty – until he is convicted and sentenced to jail, he has the right to carry out his professional duties and to earn a livelihood as a lawyer.”

No charges have yet been filed against Najib relating to 1MDB.   

Justice Azura Alwi granted Shafee a RM1 million bail today. – September 13, 2018.