KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 4): Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the lead defence counsel for imprisoned Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said that he has no knowledge of rumours that the former prime minister is expected to pay the RM50 million fine on Wednesday, which would pave the way for Najib to start serving his house arrest.
When met by reporters in court, the senior lawyer said that he has not received any instructions from his client regarding the fine payment.
"As far as I am concerned, as of today, I have [received] no instructions," he said.
He added that he is not making any predictions over what is to happen in the coming hours.
Shafee said he was merely at the court complex to pick up books he had ordered previously from the bookstore, Joshua Legal Art Gallery.
Shafee statement echoed that of his son, Farhan Shafee, who was also in court on Wednesday for another case.
"I am unsure what the current status is at the moment. I have [received] no instructions with regard to the fine just yet," Farhan said when met by the press.
Sources familiar with the matter told The Edge that Najib is expected to pay the RM50 million fine.
On Sept 18, it was announced that the Federal Territory Pardons Board — under the King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar — allowed Najib to serve the remainder of his reduced jail term under house arrest with the caveat that he pays the RM50 million fine.
Following this, Umno announced that they would crowd-fund the sum to help its former party chief.
Shafee had also previously said that his client doesn't not have the money at hand to pay the fine, as his assets remain under freezing orders and enforcement proceedings.
In the SRC International Sdn Bhd case, the court had upheld Najib's guilty verdict for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering as well as his 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine.
However, in 2024, the Pardons Board under the then Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, reduced these to six years and RM50 million.