KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 17): Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah's RM9.5 million money laundering and income tax trial is set to continue in February and March.
Both Shafee and his counsel Harvinderjit Singh have been under quarantine since Dec 10, after coming in close contact with a person who contracted Covid 19.
As a result, a case management was held before Justice Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussain on Friday (today).
Justice Jamil then fixed Feb 10, 15 and 22, along with March 1, 28 and 29, as the next trial dates. DPP Afzainizam Abdul Aziz appeared for the prosecution.
This is the second time this month that Shafee's trial has been postponed.
On Dec 8, the hearing of the case was postponed due to the Court of Appeal delivering its decision on Datuk Seri Najib Razak's appeal in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case. Shafee is the lead counsel for the former prime minister. And on Dec 10, Shafee's trial had to be postponed once again due to him being placed under quarantine
Shafee has been on trial — since Sept 13, 2018 — for two charges of receiving money derived from illegal activities amounting to RM9.5 million through two cheques of RM4.3 million on Sept 5, 2013 and RM5.2 million on Feb 14, 2014 respectively, which were allegedly issued by Najib and deposited into his CIMB Bank Bhd account.
Shafee is also facing two charges of engaging in transactions resulting from illegal activities, namely submitting incorrect tax returns and in violation of Paragraph 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 for the financial years ended Dec 31, 2013 and 2014 respectively.
The senior counsel has claimed trial to the charges.