Muhammad Shafee expected to be charged with money laundering (updated)

PETALING JAYA: Senior lawyer Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is expected to be charged by graft busters on Thursday (Sept 13) under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

He was believed to be arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) late Wednesday (Sept 12).  

Former judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram is leading the prosecuting team against Dr Muhammad Shafee.

The other DPPs in his team are Kamal Baharin Omar, Ahmad Akram Gharib, Afzainizam Abdul Aziz and Regine Sin.

As of 10.15am, Dr Muhammad Shafee has yet to be brought to court.

The court interpreter called for Dr Muhammad Shafee’s case earlier but was told that he has not arrived.

The lawyers in Dr Muhammad Shafee’s defence team are Harvinderjit Singh, Chetan Jethwani, Datuk Hasnal Rezua Merican, Sarah Abishegan, Rahmat Hazlan and his son, Muhammad Farhan.

Dr Muhammad Shafee is the lawyer leading the defence team for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power.

On Sept 6, the Attorney General’s Chamber issued an affidavit claiming that Dr Muhammad Shafee received payments amounting to RM9.5mil from Najib between 2013 and 2014.

Allegations have surfaced that the payments were made to prosecute Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Sodomy II appeals at the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.

Dr Muhammad Shafee denied the allegations, saying that the payments were for legal services done for Umno and Barisan Nasional.