PUTRAJAYA – The prosecution has filed an appeal against the high court’s decision to acquit and discharge lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah on money laundering charges involving RM9.5 million and making false declarations to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, when contacted, said the notice of appeal was filed today.
On Friday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court acquitted and discharged Shafee after ruling that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case against him at the end of its case.
Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin said that based on the testimony of the prosecution witnesses, there was no evidence of illegal activity involved or where the money – which the lawyer is accused of receiving from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak – was obtained.
On September 13, 2018, Shafee, 70, pleaded not guilty to receiving proceeds from unlawful activity via cheques issued by Najib, which were remitted into his CIMB account.
He was alleged to have received a cheque for RM4.3 million on September 13, 2013, and another for RM5.2 million on February 17, 2014.
Shafee was also charged with two counts of engaging in transactions resulting from illegal activities, namely submitting incorrect tax returns, in violation of Paragraph 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 for the financial years ending December 31, 2013, and December 31, 2014.
He was alleged to have committed the offence at IRB’s Jalan Duta branch at Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Kuala Lumpur on March 3, 2015 and June 19, 2015. – Bernama, November 1, 2022
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