KUALA LUMPUR (April 27): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) did not ask former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak why he gave RM9.5 million to senior lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is alleged to have received the money in two tranches comprising a RM4.3 million portion in 2013 and a RM5.2 million portion in 2014, MACC investigating officer Mohamad Farid Jabar told the High Court here on Wednesday (April 27).

Mohamad Farid, who is the eighth and final prosecution witness in Muhammad Shafee's money laundering trial, said this during the hearing of the case before High Court Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin.

Muhammad Shafee's lawyer Harvinderjit Singh, who was cross-examining Mohamad Farid, asked the witness: “You did not ask Najib what was the reason he gave Shafee the two cheques?”

In response, Mohamad Farid agreed that he did not call Najib to question about the money.

Harvinderjit also asked the witness about the MACC's investigation which led to the charges against Muhammad Shafee, and whether Mohamad Farid had asked Najib about the RM9.5 million payment to the senior lawyer and whether the invoices for the two payments were ascertained.

The witness answered that he did not ask Najib about the RM9.5 million payment, and he did not ascertain the invoices.

Harvinderjit: You didn’t investigate the type of legal services Shafee gave Najib?

Mohamad Farid: No.

Harvinderjit: You also did not investigate Shafee’s client files?

Mohamad Farid: I agree.

Harvinderjit: You also did not take any statement from any of Shafee’s clients?

Mohamad Farid: No.

Harvinderjit: You didn’t investigate the type of legal services which Shafee gave Najib?

Mohamad Farid: No, I did not.

Harvinderjit: You didn’t meet Najib, you didn’t check legal files, you didn’t ask [Shafee for the] invoices [of payment]?

Mohamad Farid: Correct.

Harvinderjit also asked Mohamad Farid whether the RM9.5 million payment to Muhammad Shafee was for the latter's services as a prosecutor in the appeal against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's acquittal in the ex-deputy prime minister's sodomy case.

Mohamad Farid answered “no” to this query.

On March 29, 2022, Mohamad Farid told the High Court that the RM9.5 million was the legal fees for Muhammad Shafee for representing Barisan Nasional in 46 election petition cases from 2004 to 2006.

The senior lawyer also clarified that the money he received was for election petitions and not for the task of being the prosecutor in Anwar's sodomy case.

The trial before Judge Muhammad Jamil is scheduled to end on May 12, 2022, when Harvinderjit finalises his cross-examination of Mohamad Farid.

Upon conclusion of the cross-examination, the judge will decide whether Muhammad Shafee will need to enter his defence or be acquitted of the charges against him.

The senior lawyer is facing two money laundering charges involving the RM9.5 million, which the prosecution alleged was received from Najib.

On Sept 13, 2018, Muhammad Shafee, who was charged under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, pleaded not guilty to the charges of receiving proceeds of unlawful activities via cheques issued by Najib.

The money was reportedly remitted into Muhammad Shafee's CIMB Bank Bhd account.

The prosecution alleged that the senior lawyer received a cheque for RM4.3 million on Sept 13, 2013 and another cheque for RM5.2 million on Feb 17, 2014.

He allegedly committed both offences at the CIMB Bank branch, which bears the address J2 & K1, Taman Tunku in Bukit Tunku here.

The senior lawyer is also facing two charges of making false statements to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) under the Income Tax Act 1967.

He allegedly committed the offences at the IRB's Duta branch along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here.