Crime & Courts

The IRB goes after Shafee, seeks to recover RM9.41 million in tax arrears [NSTTV]

KUALA LUMPUR: The Inland Revenue Board (IRB) has filed a suit against senior lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah to recover RM9.41 million of alleged unpaid taxes of over five years.

The suit which was filed at the High Court here on May 6 named Shafee, who is also Datuk Seri Najib Razak's counsel, as the sole defendant.

IRB in its statement of claim, signed by its senior lawyer Rohaizan Jumat said the unpaid taxes totalling RM9,411,708.32, also included additional late payment penalty incurred by the defendant between n 2011 and 2016.

It was stated that the IRB had sent additional assessment notices to Shafee's home address near Bukit Tunku on May 31 two years ago but he never responded.

The IRB is seeking RM501,646.95 (2011); RM1,130,576.49 (2012); RM4,136,632.50 (2013); RM2,004,068.25 (2014); RM2,109,674.33 (2016) in arrears.

It is also seeking a further 5% interest from the date of judgement and costs.

The defendant is being penalised as he failed to settle the amount within the stipulated time under Section 130 of the Income Tax Act 1967.

According to the Act, a 10 per cent penalty will be imposed on the outstanding amount if the balance of tax payable is not paid by the due date.

An additional five per cent will also be imposed on the tax and penalty outstanding if the amount is still outstanding within 60 days from the due date.

Shafee is the lead counsel for multiple graft cases faced by Najib including SRC International Sdn Bhd, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MBD).

He also represented the Pekan member of parliament for similar tax arrears lawsuits of RM1.69 billion by the IRB.

Shafee is also facing two counts of money laundering and making false declarations to the IRB, respectively relating to RM9.5 million payment he received from Najib.

His trial has yet to commence.

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