KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak could be a step closer in compelling the government and Pardons Board to produce the royal addendum order allowing him to serve the remainder of his jail sentence at home.
Najib’s defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has told Scoop that high court judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh is set to decide on the matter in chambers this morning.
However, Shafee does not rule out the possibility that the judge may pick another day to deliver his ruling in Najib’s leave application for judicial review.
This was concurred by sources in the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Among the matters that will be heard include Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail’s affidavit, filed to support Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s affidavit that claims the existence of the addendum order.
Wan Rosdy filed his affidavit on May 21, claiming he learnt of the addendum order from Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz on January 30.
He said Tengku Zafrul had informed him during a meeting with other Umno leaders – including Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said – at Zahid’s house in Country Heights, Kajang.
In Zahid’s affidavit, the Umno president claimed that Tengku Zafrul had informed him of the addendum order when they met at his house on January 30.
The high court had previously dismissed Tengku Zafrul’s bid to file an affidavit to correct certain “factual errors” in Zahid’s affidavit.
Judge Amarjeet based his decision to reject Tengku Zafrul’s application on the fact that he was not a party in Najib’s leave application for judicial review.
The 70-year-old filed the leave application on April 1, where he wanted to compel the government, among others, to confirm the addendum order.
He named the home minister, the commissioner-general of prisons, the attorney-general, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, the government, the law minister, as well as the director-general of the legal affairs division in the Prime Minister’s Department, as respondents.
Najib, currently serving his sentence for corruption in the SRC International case, requested that the respondents confirm the addendum order exists – and if so, to execute the order, provide original copies of it and discuss any necessary reliefs the court deems fit.
His prison sentence was halved by the Pardons Board at its meeting on January 29, from 12 years to six, and his fine was lowered from RM210 million to RM50 million. – June 5, 2024