FORMER prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s daughter has taken to social media to express her disappointment with the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s decision not to grant her father a full pardon.
In an Instagram post, Nooryana Najwa said while she appreciated the board’s decision, she is disappointed that her father was not granted a full pardon and an immediate release from prison.
“(Najib) and his family remain steadfast in their belief that he is innocent,” she stated.
“Those who followed the SRC International case closely would agree with Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak’s (Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli) judgment that Najib suffered a great injustice (during the trial).”
Recall that Abdul Rahman was the sole dissenting judge on the five-member Federal Court bench of Najib’s SRC International appeal hearing on March 30, 2023.
The judge said Najib had no legal representation when a Federal Court panel dismissed his final appeal, adding that the court’s refusal to grant an adjournment of the main appeals “had defeated altogether (Najib’s) right to be represented by an effective counsel”.
Abdul Rahman said while the court retained a discretion whether to grant an adjournment, the real issue was whether the exercise of that discretion had deprived Najib of his right to a fair hearing.
He said Najib was denied a fair hearing when his then counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik discharged himself after the panel insisted that the appeal must proceed.
Najib, who is a former finance minister, is currently serving a 12-year sentence after being found guilty of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in relation to RM42 mil that had been siphoned from SRC International, a former 1MBD subsidiary. He was also fined RM210 mil.
The former Pekan MP is also currently on trial to answer charges of abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.28 bil, believed to have been 1MDB funds. – Feb 2, 2024
Main pic credit: The Star
