By The Straits Times | Created at 2024-10-29 22:22:59 | Updated at 2024-10-30 07:21:02
21 hours ago
Updated
Oct 29, 2024, 07:07 PM
Published
Oct 29, 2024, 06:15 PM
KUALA LUMPUR – Six years after he was charged, former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak will find out on Oct 30 whether he will be acquitted or called to enter his defence on four counts of abusing his position for the gratification of RM2.28 billion (S$690 million) from the coffers of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same monies.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal, will be delivering his decision at the end of the prosecution’s case on Oct 30.
The proceedings at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur are expected to begin at 9am.
If the court finds prima facie in the prosecution’s case, Najib would be called to enter his defence.
An accused who is called to enter a defence may elect to testify under oath from the witness stand; give a statement from the dock; or remain silent, in which case the court must proceed to convict him.
But in the case that prima facie is not established, the court would acquit Najib of the charges.
Just a week earlier on Oct 24, Najib publicly apologised to all Malaysians over the 1MDB scandal, which occurred during his tenure as prime minister and finance minister.
In a statement read by his son, Mr Nizar Najib, at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex where his trial is currently being held, Najib said he decided to make the statement after much reflection during his 26 months in jail (for his conviction in the RM42 million SRC International graft trial) and following significant recent developments relating to 1MDB.
Mr Nizar read a statement by Najib: “It pains me to know the 1MDB debacle happened under my watch as the minister of finance and prime minister.
“For that, I would like to apologise unreservedly to the Malaysian people.”
According to the amended charges, the former Pekan MP is facing four counts of using his position to obtain RM2.28 billion gratification from 1MDB’s funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The abuse of power offences were allegedly committed at an AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.
Meanwhile, the money laundering offences were allegedly committed at the same location between March 22 and Aug 30, 2013.
If he is convicted at the end of the defence case, Najib is facing imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
On May 30, the prosecution closed its case after calling 50 witnesses to the stand to testify against the former prime minister.
Some of the high profile witnesses were former 1MDB chairman Bakke Salleh, former 1MDB chief executive Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.
Another notable witness was former general counsel of 1MDB, Ms Jasmine Loo, who went hiding abroad for about five years before surrendering herself to the authorities in July 2023.
She was the 50th and last witness to testify.
The prosecution’s trial began on Aug 28, 2019, and lasted 235 days.
The late deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram led the prosecution team until his demise in January 2023.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib took on his mantle, with DPPs Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam and Kamal Bahrin Omar on the team.
Meanwhile, the lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and lawyers Wan Mohammad Arfan Wan Othman, Alaistair Brandah Norman and Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin represented Najib. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
