KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has to wait a little longer to know the fate of his representation letters, which were used to seek the prosecution to drop all three money laundering charges involving RM27 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul told high court judge K. Muniandy here that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) needed more time to deliberate on the matter.
However, the judge said, that if the prosecution has yet to decide on the representation by the next case management, the defence can proceed to apply for a DNAA.
“Due to current circumstances, the prosecution is not able to make a determinative decision on representation sent by Najib (via his counsels).
“Therefore, we humbly seek another date for case management,” said Ashrof.
In response, Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said another case management proceeding would be unfair to his client as the charges continue to hang over his head.
“We have had 26 days of case management before justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan (previously) and four days before you, Yang Arif (your honour).
“So, I think, we can see that this difficulty for the prosecution in making up their mind shows the charge can be regarded as groundless. So, an order for discharge and acquittal is, in fact, in order,” said Shafee.
The judge fixed March 12 for case management for prosecution to inform the court of its decision and five days in September for trial.
The dates in September are 17 to 19 as well as 23 to 24.
Najib was charged on February 3, 2019, with three counts of money laundering involving RM27 million of SRC’s funds.
On July 31, he filed a representation letter to the AGC to have his charges reviewed or dropped. The AGC reportedly said it received the 51-page letter on August 2.
Najib, 70, is now serving his 12-year jail sentence after he was convicted for misappropriating RM42 million of SRC funds. – January 19, 2024