KUALA LUMPUR: Prominent lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has arrived at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex in Jalan Duta here where he is expected to be charged with money laundering.
Shafee, who is the lead counsel to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s criminal cases, arrived at about 11.18am escorted by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.
He appeared calm and smiled to journalists at the court’s entrance before being ushered directly into the courtroom located on the second level of the building.
“I will give you a press statement after this,” he said.
Shafee is expected to face four charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).
It was reported that Shafee had received a sum of RM9.5 million from Najib to lead the prosecution team in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy II appeal trial in 2015.
An affidavit which names Siti Rahayu Mohd Mumazaini alleges that two cheques were issued by Najib – one on Sept 11, 2013 for RM4.3 million and another on Feb 14, 2014 for RM5.2 million.
Shafee allegedly received RM9.5 million in two tranches of RM4.3 million and RM5.2 million in his bank accounts on Sept 13, 2013 and Feb 17, 2014, respectively.
Rahayu said the information was obtained by the MACC following a probe into Shafee under the AMLATFPUAA.