LAWYER Muhammad Shafee Abdullah accused the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) of being unethical in making public its action against him over RM9.41 million in tax arrears before serving the suit on him.

Speaking to reporters at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today, Shafee also said the action against him seemed to be political in nature.

He also said that he has yet to receive IRB’s legal notice against him.

“Yes, they said they have filed but I have not received anything, nothing. I do not understand how they do that, it’s very unethical,” Shafee told reporters after the SRC International appeal hearing.

Shafee is former prime minister Najib Razak’s lead defence counsel in the case involving the misappropriation of SRC International Sdn Bhd and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.

“They haven’t served and the news has come out, this is typical of IRB and I regard this as a political move. That is all I would say,” he added.

It was reported yesterday that the Malaysian government, through the IRB, sought payment from Shafee amounting to RM9.41 million in tax arrears for five assessment years.

The writ of summons and the statement of claim were filed on May 6 at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, with Shafee, 69, named as the defendant.

A source from IRB had said yesterday that the writ of summons would be served to Shafee soon.

Based on the statement of claim, obtained through the court’s e-filing system, the government claimed that an additional assessment comprising of RM621,291.85, RM978,854.11, RM3,581,500, RM1,735,124.03 and RM1,826,557,87 was made for the assessment years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 respectively, through a notice dated May 27, 2019, which was sent to the defendant.

It claimed that until now the defendant failed to pay the amount.

As such, the plaintiff is seeking a payment of RM9,414,708.32 from the defendant, at an interest rate of 5% per annum from the date of judgment until the date of realisation, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

Shafee is also facing two charges of receiving RM9.5 million in proceeds from unlawful activities from Najib and two charges of making false declarations to the IRB. – May 18, 2021.