Court of Appeal grants Najib stay in SRC International trial

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 11 Feb 2019 5:18PM · 7 Comments

Najib Razak had applied to stay the trial pending the outcome of the appellate court’s decision on his appeal relating to the withdrawal of a certificate of transfer by the public prosecutor. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Afif Abd Halim, February 11, 2019.

THE Court of Appeal has allowed Najib Razak’s application to postpone his trial over seven corruption charges involving SRC International Bhd funds amounting to RM42 million, which was scheduled to start hearing tomorrow.

The panel of three appellate court judges – Ahmadi Haji Asnawi, Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, and Yew Jen Kie – unanimously allowed the defence’s application for a stay.

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas had earlier argued that Najib’s application for a stay should be rejected as his trial was a matter of public interest.

Judge Ahmadi, while agreeing with Thomas that the case was of public interest, however disagreed with the prosecutor’s claim that Najib and his legal team were trying to delay the trial.

“We do not find any evidence of legal tactics to delay the hearing. We hereby allow the motion by the applicant,” the judge said.

Najib, who is also Pekan MP, had sought to stay his trial pending his appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision to allow Thomas’ application to withdraw a certificate to transfer the seven charges over SRC International Bhd from the high court to the Sessions Court.

Thomas filed the application last Thursday to withdraw the case transfer based on previous decisions by the federal court that raised doubts about the public prosecutor’s powers to make such transfers.

As Najib’s appeal against Thomas’ application to withdraw the certificate of transfer is still pending, Ahmadi said that the public prosecutor risked rendering the trial “nugatory” given the application for the withdrawal.

There are three other money-laundering charges also involving SRC International that have been brought against Najib over RM47 million.

Last Friday, Najib claimed trial to these three charges which were today transferred to the high court. 

The judge, however, said today that it would “be decided later” whether the three charges would be heard jointly with the seven charges over RM42 million.

Najib, 65, faces a total of 42 counts of criminal wrongdoing related to 1MDB. – February 11, 2019.

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Comments

  • #tangguhapabossku

    Posted 5 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

  • Our legal system is pribably a joke after all

    Posted 5 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

  • eh bugis warrior why you so scared to start the trial? should proceed and clear your name lah. tak malu ka boss ? ptui

    Posted 5 years ago by . . · Reply

  • Alamak
    Delay lagi
    Sial la ko

    Posted 5 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply

  • Alamak
    Delay lagi
    Sial la ko
    Kate bugis warrior

    Posted 5 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply

  • So it is very true that the talks in the street is that Najib will never be prosecuted for his crime and there is every possibility that he will be a free man. Something is stinking in Malaysia all in the guise of legal loop holes and dirty politics. Looks like rakyat is being taken for a ride.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • One slip by Government lawyers, and the smart ass Shafee jones on it!! Be alert AG

    Posted 5 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply