KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 13): Senior lawyer Tan Sri Mohammad Shafee Abdullah has pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering and making false statements, reports Malaysiakini.

Shafee is leading the defence team for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power.

He had been charged with two counts of money laundering and two counts of making false statements.

According to the charge sheet, Shafee was alleged to have engaged in two counts of money laundering activities by receiving proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM9.5 million, Malaysiakini said.

The sum was allegedly transferred to Shafee in two tranches from a bank account belonging to Najib, Malaysiakini added.

Shafee was alleged to have committed the offence on Sept 13, 2013 and Feb 17, 2014.

If found guilty under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, Shafee will face a maximum jail term of five years, a fine of up to RM5 million, or both.

Shafee also faces two counts of violating the Income Tax Act 1967 by making false statements concerning the two transactions.

If found guilty, Shafee can be jailed up to 15 years and fined not less than five times the value of the sum involved in the offence or RM5 million, whichever is higher.

Shafee was granted bail of RM1 million and ordered to surrender both his Malaysian and diplomatic passports. 

Meanwhile, the Attorney-General's Chambers has appointed former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram to head the prosecution team in the case against Shafee.