THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today has ordered lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah to pay over RM5.5 million in income tax arrears to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

Judicial Commissioner Roz Mawar Rozain issued the order after senior revenue counsel Norhisham Ahmad informed the court that Shafee must pay RM5,529,577 in total.

“We are also asking for RM10,000 in costs,” said Norhisham, who was assisted by senior revenue counsel Muhammad Faqrol Syazreen Mohd Ghause.

Lawyer Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, representing his father, asked for costs to be fixed at RM5,000 in costs.

Roz set costs at RM10,000.

Farhan then told the court that he would seek instructions from his client on whether to appeal today’s decision.

On December 15, the same court allowed IRB’s application for a summary judgment against the veteran lawyer. A summary judgment is obtained when the court decides on a case through written submissions without a full trial and calling witnesses.

On September 28, 2021, the IRB asked that its suit against Shafee, which was filed on May 6 in the same year, be decided by summary judgment due to the defendant’s failure to pay income tax arrears amounting to RM9,414,708.32.

The IRB claimed that the lawyer failed to pay the amount, including the increase in the amount, for the assessment years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016.

On October 28, 2022, Shafee was acquitted and discharged on two counts of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM9.5 million from former prime minister Najib Razak and two charges of making incorrect statements to the IRB.

The prosecution initially appealed the court decision but withdrew it on December 5. This resulted in the acquittal of Shafee in all four cases. – Bernama, December 21, 2023.