FORMER prime minister Najib Razak told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that he was not prepared to testify in the trial of Shahrir Ab Samad, who is charged with failing to declare RM1 million allegedly received from him, without his lawyer present. 

Najib, 69, who is the prosecution’s 23rd witness, said his lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah could not be in court today as he is out of town. 

“I request to testify on January 5 and at that time my lawyer will be present, because it is important for my lawyer to be with me,” said Najib, who was clad in a blue suit. 

Deputy public prosecutor Rasyidah Murni Azmi requested that the court consider the request. 

Lawyer Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin, representing Shahrir, did not object to the matter.

Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin then set January 5 for Najib to appear in court to testify in the case. 

The trial then continued with cross-examination of the 22nd prosecution witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission assistant superintendent Nurzahidah Yacop. 

Shahrir, 73, who is former Johor Baru MP, is facing a charge of money laundering by not stating his real income in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 2013, which is a violation of section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, on the RM1 million, believed to be from unlawful activities, that he received from Najib.

He is charged with committing the offence at Inland Revenue Board, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Kuala Lumpur, on April 25, 2014. 

The charge, under section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, provides imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of RM5 million, or both, if convicted. – Bernama, December 22, 2022.