KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 14): Senior lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah's money laundering and incorrect tax return trial at the High Court was postponed on Thursday, as his counsel Harvinderjit Singh has to attend a funeral.

Shafee's lawyer Sarah Abishegam informed Justice Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin that Harvinderjit had to attend the funeral of his master (his mentor before he was called to the Bar).

Sarah informed the court that they had worked out with the prosecution on the replacement dates for this, namely Oct 26 and 27, and asked for the November trial dates to be vacated as Shafee is tied up with other cases.

“We proposed the replacement dates on Dec 8 and 10 as replacement,” Sarah added.

She said there are three witnesses left in the trial and the four days will be sufficient.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz, who is leading the prosecution team, concurred that the prosecution has no objection to the adjournment and the dates mentioned.

Following that, Justice Jamil allowed the postponement and said the next hearing dates will be Oct 26-27, and Dec 8 and 10, and that the court allowed the November trial dates to be vacated.

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, issued by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which were allegedly deposited into the lawyer's CIMB Bank Bhd account.

He 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.