LHDN applies for Shafee’s tax case to be decided without witness testimony

The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) has applied for its suit against Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, seeking payment amounting to RM9.41 million in tax arrears for five assessment years, to be decided through summary judgment.

A summary judgement is where a court decides a case without hearing testimony of witnesses.

The application was filed by LHDN on behalf of the government as the plaintiff on Sept 27, on grounds that the defendant (Shafee) had failed to pay the income tax arrears amounting to RM9,414,708.32 within the stipulated time.

High Court deputy registrar Syeela Marlina Uttaman, during case management of the tax case via e-Review yesterday, fixed Oct 13 for another case management.

The writ of summons and the statement of claim were filed on May 6 at the High Court, with Shafee, 69, named as the defendant.

Based on the statement of claim which was obtained through the court’s e-filing system, the government claimed that an additional assessment amounting to RM621,291.85, RM978,854.11, RM3,581,500, RM1,735,124.03 and RM1,826,557,87 was made for the assessment year of 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 respectively, through a notice dated May 27, 2019, which was sent to the defendant.

It claimed that the defendant had still yet to pay the amount.

It said the defendant should pay RM9,414,708.32, interest of 5% per annum from the date of judgment until the date of realisation, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.

Shafee is the lawyer representing former prime minister Najib Razak in the case involving the misappropriation of SRC International Sdn Bhd and 1MDB funds.

Shafee is facing two charges of receiving RM9.5 million in proceeds from unlawful activities from Najib and two charges of making false declarations to LHDN.