THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered Putrajaya and lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah to respond to Anwar Ibrahim’s application to set aside his sodomy conviction following allegations that Shafee, who was lead prosecutor, received RM9.5 million from the prime minister.

Judge Kamaludin Md Said issued the order following case management today, adding that the affidavit in reply to Anwar’s application must be submitted by July 12.

The judge also directed Shafee, who was named by Anwar in the discovery application, to submit his application by July 19.

Shafee was appointed as lead prosecutor by former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail.

Anwar filed the suit on June 9 following allegation by whistle-blower site Sarawak Report that RM9.5 million was transferred from Prime Minister Najib Razak’s private account to Shafee, who was prosecutor in the jailed opposition leader’s sodomy appeal.

Sarawak Report alleged that Shafee received the money in two tranches of RM4.3 million and RM5.2 million in 2013 and 2014.

Anwar filed the suit on June 9 to quash his sodomy conviction on grounds that he was denied a fair trial.

He also filed a discovery application last week, seeking a court order for Najib and Shafee to reveal their financial statements between August 2013 and October 2013, and January 2014 and March 2014.

Najib and Shafee have not responded to the Sarawak Report allegation. The lawyer, however, told The Malaysian Insight recently that he will issue a press statement on the matter soon.

At the High Court today, senior federal counsel Nadia Hanim Tajuddin appeared for the government while Sarah Abishegam appeared for Shafee. Najib was not represented.

Anwar was represented by Latheefa Koya and N. Surendran.

Latheefa told The Malaysian Insight that case management has been set for August 3. – June 21, 2017.