KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s RM9.5 million money laundering trial at the High Court here has been postponed as a key witness is not available.

Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz said the witness – former Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) tax officer Syed Nasrul Fahmi Syed Mohamad – is sick.

“We hope that the cross-examination of Syed Nasrul can resume tomorrow before we call our last witness, who is the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) investigating officer,” Afzainizam said.

Lawyer Harvinderjit Singh, for Shafee, said the defence wanted to conclude its cross-examination of Syed Nasrul first.

“Our cross-examination against the IO (investigating officer) will take a long time,” he said.

Shafee is standing trial on four counts of money laundering involving a sum of RM9.5 million, purportedly from Najib Razak.

The prosecution contends that Shafee concealed the RM9.5 million, which was said to be “legal fees” from Najib, from LHDN.

It said the money was deposited into Shafee’s personal bank account instead of his firm’s account.

The prosecution also said Shafee gave inconsistent versions on the reasons for the payment in question.

“In his statement to MACC on July 28, 2017, the accused said the RM9.5 million was his legal fees.

“However, on Sept 11, 2018, he told MACC that he and Najib agreed for the money to be a loan, pending rationalisation of the fee already payable to him,” the prosecution said.

The case is being heard before judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin. – FMT

by: Ho Kit Yen