FORMER premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s money laundering case has been scheduled for mention on Dec 1, following an update provided to the High Court.
The legal team representing the former prime minister (PM) has lodged representations with the attorney general’s office, seeking the withdrawal of the case.
Deputy public prosecutor Ashrof Adrin Kamarul informed Justice K Muniandy that these representations were submitted by Najib’s solicitors Shafee & Co on Aug 2.
“It is a voluminous document and several pertinent issues have been raised. We need more time before a decision can be made,” he said.
Moreover, Ashrof requested that the case be fixed for mention in three months, allowing sufficient time for a thorough review of the representations.
Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah confirmed that a 51-page document was presented to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
“All cards have been placed on the table, including documents and witnesses,” he added.
During the previous mention in May, Shafee expressed the defence’s hope that the charges against Najib would be dropped by Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun, citing the prosecution’s successful conviction in the RM42 mil SRC International corruption case.
However, Shafee did not oppose Ashrof’s request for an extended mention date.
“The current AG’s tenure will come to an end next month. We do not know whether it will be extended,” noted Shafee.
On Feb 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial on the three money laundering charges in which he is said to have accepted proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM27 mil through three AmPrivate banking accounts.
The purported offences took place at AmIslamic Bank Bhd, situated within the AmBank Group building at Jalan Raja Chulan on July 8, 2014.
If found guilty, Najib could be subject to a maximum fine of RM5 mil or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, under charges framed in accordance with Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
In a separate ruling on Aug 23 of the previous year, the Federal Court upheld Najib’s conviction for misappropriating RM42 mil of SRC funds.
The court affirmed the sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment and a fine of RM210 mil that had been imposed on the former PM. Subsequently, Najib began serving his prison sentence on the same day.
On March 31, in a split ruling of 4-1, the Federal Court rejected Najib’s application for leave to review his conviction and sentence. – Aug 18, 2023
