KUALA LUMPUR: The defence for lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has filed to recuse lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram in his money laundering case of RM9.5 million.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Izzat Fauzan told reporters that the defence did not want Sri Ram to lead the prosecution in the case and the documents have been served to the prosecution team.
“The court has fixed Jan 24 for case management before High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah,“ he said after meeting in the chambers of High Court deputy registrar Farah Azura Mohd Saad.
The application was done on Sept 13 to disqualify former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram as he was the lawyer for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Court of Appeal for the civil case involving the same issue of RM9.5 million.
On Sept 13, Muhammad Shafee claimed trial at the sessions court here to two counts of receiving proceeds from illegal activities, each amounting to RM4.3 million and RM5.2 million via two cheques from AmIslamic Bank Berhad belonging to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abd Razak which were credited into two CIMB Bank Berhad accounts belonging to the accused.
He was accused of committing both offences at the CIMB Bank Berhad, J2 & K1, Taman Tunku, Bukit Tunku near here on Sept 13, 2013 and Feb 17, 2014.
Both charges were filed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 which provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million and imprisonment not exceeding five years or both upon conviction.
The other charge related to the same offence involving the RM5.2 million received from Najib.
The offences were allegedly committed at the Inland Revenue Board, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, here on March 3, 2015, and June 29, 2015.
The charges were filed under Section 4(1)(a) Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities 2001 (AMLATFAPUA).
