Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak turned up at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Academy (MACA) in Jalan Duta today, believed to be to receive three notices on new charges against him in relation to funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
- Quizzed at 5pm today for 45 minutes
- Facing three fresh charges of money laundering SRC funds on Aug 8
- A-G urged to apply to lift gag order, revoke bail at Najib’s hearing tomorrow
Najib, who arrived at 4.58 pm, was there for about 45 minutes before leaving in a white Toyota Vellfire MPV which was escorted by two other vehicles.
https://youtu.be/ErbVL5Duy84?t=1
The media had earlier reported that the Pekan MP would be brought to the Sessions Court at the Jalan Duta Court Complex tomorrow to face three more charges linked to SRC funds under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFA).
The section provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million or jail up to five years or both, if convicted.
Citing a source, The Sun reported that Najib will be taken to the sessions court before judge Datuk Zainal Abidin Kamarudin tomorrow morning. He would then be taken to the High Court before Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.
A Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) source told the Malay Mail that Najib was initially expected to spend the night in MACC’s custody.
On July 4, Najib, 65, had pleaded not guilty at the High Court here to three criminal breach of trust charges and one abuse of power charge in relation to SRC funds.
Meanwhile, lawyer Syed Iskandar Syed Jaafar Al Mahdzar has urged Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to apply to lift the interim gag order before the new High Court judge hearing Najib’s criminal cases tomorrow, as it was made without any basis.
“The court should make a decision based on evidence.
“Since there are questions surrounding the previous judge (High Court judge Sophian Abdul Razak) who heard the case last month, the interim gag order applied by Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is in question,” Syed Iskandar told Malaysiakini.
It was revealed earlier that Justice Sophian is the brother of Mohd Soffi Abdul Razak, a five-term Umno assemblyperson in Pahang and a four-time state exco member, raising concerns of his impartiality.
“The judge should have declared his interests…and furthermore Shafee should have given advance notice (to the prosecution) of his intention. Hence, Shafee was not following proper procedure (by making an oral application).”
It was previously reported that former lawmaker and lawyer N Surendran had said that the judge has no power to provide a gag order binding “the world at large”.
Shafee had applied for the gag order on the grounds of preventing a trial by media.
Syed Iskandar also suggested that the prosecution apply to revoke bail granted to Najib as the charge of criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Penal Code is non-bailable.
“What is so special about Najib that he be given bail?” Syed Iskandar asked.
He added that the new judge hearing the matter can decide on the bail as well as review the orders made by Justice Sophian.