[UPDATED] AGC withdraws appeal against Shafee’s acquittal over money laundering charges

PUTRAJAYA – The Attorney-General’s Chamber (AGC) has withdrawn its appeal against prominent lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s acquittal and discharge over money-laundering charges. 

This was confirmed by Shafee via a statement today, where he said the prosecution has filed a discontinuance notice to the Court of Appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision, and therefore the appeal is deemed dismissed. 

The Kuala Lumpur High Court, on October 28 last year, acquitted and discharged Shafee from two money laundering charges involving RM9.5 million he received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. 

High court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin, on the same day, also acquitted Shafee from one count of making false declaration to the Inland Revenue Board for not including the sum he received from Najib in his tax filing for 2013 and 2014. 

Jamil backed the acquittal and discharged based on prosecution failure to establish a prima facie case against Shafee. The prominent lawyer, who is also representing Najib in ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds misappropriation trial, was charged with all three counts on September 13, 2018. 

Shafee, in a statement today, said that the prosecution’s decision to withdraw their appeal is not only an exercise of discretion without fear or favour. 

“But (it) underpins the impeachable nature of the high court decision where the learned judge found in both fact and law that there was no element of a predicate offence (illegal activity) to give rise to charges of money laundering, (which) thus, acquitting Shafee of all charges without his defence being called,” said the statement. 

Following this appeal withdrawal, Shafee said he looks forward to continuing his professional endeavours with the same dedication and integrity that have always guided him in the service of his clients. – December 5, 2023