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KUALA LUMPUR – The trial of lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who was charged with money laundering and making false statements to the Inland Revenue Board, has been postponed to October 26 as lead counsel Harvinderjit Singh had a funeral to attend.
At today’s proceedings, Shafee’s lawyer Sarah Abishegam told the high court that Harvinderjit had to attend the funeral of his master (mentor) before he was called to the Bar.
“Both parties agreed to replace today’s hearing to October 26 and 27. The prosecution had also applied for the trial dates in November to be vacated as Shafee is tied up with other cases,” she said.
She also proposed the next trial dates to be set on December 8 and 10, saying that four days would be sufficient as there are only three witnesses left to be called.
As deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz did not object, judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin allowed the trial dates in November to be vacated, postponed today’s trial and set the next hearing dates on October 26 and 27, as well as December 8 and 10.
On September 13, 2018, Shafee pleaded not guilty to two charges of receiving RM9.5 million in proceeds from unlawful activities through two cheques issued by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which were deposited into his CIMB Bank Bhd account.
He was also charged with two counts of engaging in transactions resulting from illegal activities, namely submitting incorrect tax returns, which is 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. – Bernama, October 14, 2021
