Representing Shafee, counsel Rajan Navaratnam told High Court judicial commissioner Roz Mawar Rozain that the parties were also seeking an adjournment of today’s hearing because of this new development.

The court had been scheduled to hear LHDN’s application for a summary judgment against Shafee today.

A summary judgment is obtained when the court decides on a case through written submissions, without a full trial and calling witnesses.

Roz Mawar set 8.30am on Dec 15 to hear the application for a summary judgment by LHDN.

“If there is no settlement, I have to proceed with the case. This case has gone on long enough,” she said.

Rajan told reporters both parties were negotiating to explore the possibility of a settlement. “We just want to see if it can be resolved amicably,” he said.

Senior revenue counsel Al-Hummidallah Idrus said LHDN had responded to a proposal sent by Shafee last month to settle the case.

On Sept 27, 2021, LHDN applied for its suit against Shafee, filed on May 6, to be decided by summary judgment on the grounds that the defendant had failed to pay RM9,414,708.32 in income tax arrears within the stipulated time.

It claimed that Shafee had failed to pay the income tax owed for the assessment years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016, including any increase on the imposed sum.

On Oct 28 last year, the High Court acquitted Shafee on two charges of receiving proceeds from unlawful activities amounting to RM9.5 million from former prime minister Najib Razak, and two charges of making incorrect statements to the LHDN.

However, the prosecution filed an appeal against the court’s decision on Nov 1 last year.