‘Najib not quizzed over cheques to Shafee’

A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer told the High Court yesterday that he did not question Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak on the reason the latter gave two cheques, for RM9.5 million to Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah in 2013 and 2014.

Mohamad Farid Jabar, 37, said he also did not meet with the former prime minister to confirm the matter.

The cheques, for RM4.3 million and RM5.2 million each dated Sept 3, 2013 and Feb 17, 2014, respectively, were issued by Najib himself in

Muhammad Shafee’s name.

The MACC investigating officer was replying to a question by lawyer Harvinderjit Singh, who is representing Muhammad Shafee, 70, at the trial of the veteran lawyer for allegedly receiving RM9.5 million in proceeds from unlawful activities from Najib and making false statements to the Inland Revenue Board.

Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Afzainizam Abdul Aziz asked whether there was an invoice for the RM9.5 million payment, to which Mohamad Farid replied “None”.

The witness told the court that the RM9.5 million was payment for legal advice given by Muhammad Shafee to Najib and Umno, including for filing of election petitions.

The MACC investigating officer said he had never asked or issued a notice to Messrs Shafee & Co to submit an invoice for the RM9.5 million payment.

Mohamad Farid, who is the last prosecution witness, said he did not conduct any investigation on the files at the legal firm nor take any evidence from Muhammad Shafee’s clients.

To a question by Harvinderjit on whether he was told that the cheques were issued by Najib to Muhammad Shafee because the latter acted as the DPP in the sodomy appeal case involving Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the witness said “No”.

On March 11, 2015, former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri told the Dewan Rakyat that Muhammad Shafee received a payment of RM1,000 for acting as DPP in Anwar’s case.

On Sept 13, 2018, Muhammad Shafee pleaded not guilty to two charges of receiving RM9.5 million, which were proceeds from unlawful activities through two cheques issued by Najib deposited into his CIMB Bank Bhd account.

The lawyer was charged with two counts of engaging in transactions resulting from illegal activities, namely submitting incorrect tax returns, in violation of paragraph 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 for the financial years ending Dec 31, 2013 and Dec 31, 2014.

The trial before Justice Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin continues on May 12. – Bernama