THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has agreed to release the passport of lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is on trial for money laundering, for travel to the United States.

Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin permitted Shafee’s request for the temporary release of his travel document so that he could attend to his son’s education at Parsons School of Design in New York. 

Shafie is allowed to hold his passport from today until December 3

His lawyer Wee Yeong Kang told the court today that Shafee was needed in New York from October 27 to November 30.

The prosecution did not object to the application. 

Shafee, 69, is accused of laundering RM9.5 million he received from former prime minister Najib Razak.

Shafee is also charged with two counts of engaging in transactions resulting from illegal activities, namely submitting incorrect tax returns for the financial years ending December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2014.

Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi are the other high-profile personalities who have recently successfully applied for their passports to be returned to them for international travel while they are on trial or waiting to appeal a conviction. – October 25, 2021.