THE trial of lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who faces two money-laundering charges involving RM9.5 million allegedly given by former prime minister Najib Razak and two counts of making false statements to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), has been vacated.

Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram, who leads the prosecution, said Shafee’s case is vacated to make way for Najib’s ongoing corruption trials involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd and SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

“The court fixed April 30 for mention, (and on this day) we will brief on what’s happening in the other cases, and the court will fix fresh dates,” he told reporters after case mention in chambers before high court judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin today.

Shafee, is the lead counsel for Najib in both of the latter’s trials.

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz also acted for the prosecution, while lawyers Sarah Abishegam and Nur Syahirah Hanapiah represented Shafee.

On June 27 last year, the high court fixed 16 days – March 9 to 13; March 30 to April 2; May 12 to 14; and, May 18 to 21 for the trial.

On September 13, 2018, Shafee pleaded not guilty to receiving proceeds from unlawful activities via cheques issued by Najib that were remitted into the former’s CIMB Bank account.

He allegedly received a cheque for RM4.3 million on September 13, 2013 and another for RM5.2 million on February 17, 2014.

The charges, under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, carry a fine not exceeding RM5 million, or up to five years’ jail, or both, upon conviction.

Shafee also faces two charges of involvement in the transaction of proceeds from unlawful activities by making inaccurate statements, in contravention of Paragraph 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, for the financial years ending December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014.

He allegedly committed the offences at IRB’s Duta branch in Kuala Lumpur on March 3 and June 29, 2015.

He faces a jail term of a maximum 15 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of the proceeds from unlawful activities upon conviction. – Bernama, March 2, 2020.