Lawyer Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin told the High Court that the former Johor Bahru MP’s stand was consistent and he did not purposely evade declaring the RM1 million as his income.

“He is facing a charge under Amla (the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act), where the predicate offence was Section 113 of the Income Tax Act (making incorrect returns).

“His position has always been there was no non-declaration of income on his part as the RM1 million is reimbursement of trust funds from his personal money.

“Thus, it is relevant for us to establish that he is in a position to make the payment out of his personal money,” he said, adding that the defence had asked a prosecution witness from Parliament, Rosli Mat Jinun, to produce Shahrir’s monthly salaries and allowances starting from 1978.

However, Firoz stopped short in explaining why the purported “reimbursement” was paid.

Shahrir is accused of failing to declare RM1 million he received from Najib Razak nine years ago.

Earlier today, Firoz questioned Rosli on Shahrir’s monthly salaries and allowances after Shahrir was elected as Johor Bahru MP more than 40 years ago.

Rosli, however, said he did not have access to the information as it had been disposed of.

He also said salaries and allowances paid to Shahrir when he served as a deputy minister and minister in various portfolios were not under his control.

Deputy public prosecutor Afif Ali, irked by the lawyer’s questions, asked how they were relevant to Shahrir’s charge.

He said the alleged offence took place on April 25, 2014.

“What does his salary from 1978 have to do with it?” he asked.

In response, Firoz said the defence was entitled in all fairness to obtain the information from Rosli.

Rosli then said he needed to consult his supervisors if he could obtain the information sought by the defence on a future trial date.

The hearing before judge Jamil Hussin continues.