1MDB judge issues reprimand after Najib’s Tg Piai trip

Bede Hong Timothy Achariam Bede Hong, Timothy Achariam Updated 4 years ago · Published on 4 Nov 2019 11:20AM · 5 Comments

Former prime minister Najib Razak has been suffering from recurring bouts of eye infection but is back at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today for the resumption of the 1MDB trial. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Hasnoor Hussain, November 4, 2019.

1MDB case trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah today issued a reprimand after former prime minister Najib Razak took a trip to Tg Piai in Johor last week despite being on medical leave, which prevented him from attending Thursday’s hearing.

“This court will not tolerate any attempt to mislead it,” said Sequerah.

“Let me say under no uncertain terms, should the need arise, the court will not hesitate to punish the accused with contempt. However, after listening to both parties, the court does not see the need to impose sanctions,” the judge said after hearing submissions from lawyers.

Earlier, senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told the court he was instructed by Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to sanction Najib for taking a trip to Johor on Thursday night. Najib stayed until the next day.

“This is not the first time this has happened,” Sri Ram said.

“On previous occasions, the accused obtained a MC and attended a meeting of Umno and PAS at PWTC (Putra World Trade Centre). There has been a public outcry about what has happened and the public prosecutor has received a number of complaints, in fact a police report has been lodged. I think the accused has been using his MC as an excuse to attain adjournment.”

Sri Ram further described Najib’s recovery as “miraculous” and said the prosecution sought to impose sanctions on Najib by restricting his movement to within Kuala Lumpur and to report to the nearest police station every Saturday.

Lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah responded by saying Thomas had failed to do his research, saying Najib has attended more than 100 days of trial hearing days and only three days of MCs.

The lawyer further argued that other prominent politicians have taken up to 69 adjournments due to various matters.

Shafee also criticised the person who lodged the police report against Najib: “He is obviously hiding behind someone’s skirt.”

Najib, 66, is on trial for four counts of power abuse to enrich himself with RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 counts of laundering the same amount.

He was in Tg Piai on the eve of the nominations for the parliamentary seat by-election which will be held on November 16. – November 4, 2019.

MORE TO COME

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • MalaysiaKini has quoted the following:

    Editor's note: The defence informed the court of their objections against Malaysiakini's interpretation of the judge's ruling, to which the judge clarified that he was speaking in general terms and did not refer to the Tanjung Piai by-election.

    TMI your headline is misleading!!

    Posted 4 years ago by M F · Reply

    • This does not detract from the fact that Najib has lied and abused his MC for his own interests, misled the Judge and attempted to further delay the trial. The ex-PM has behaved disgracefully and his actions are tantamount to lying which appears to be his speciality throughout his political career.

      Posted 4 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

    • Tell me where in this article does it say he lied and abused the MC? If he lied surely the judge would have done some thing about it especially after it was raised in court

      Posted 4 years ago by M F · Reply

    • He lied laa. He submitted MC stating that he is not fit to appear in court but he went to Tg Piai- apparently fit enough to be out in the open ! Apa lagi... ?!?!

      Posted 4 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

  • BossKu...you are not the boss ku in judicial now as you are no more PM. Don't play play then add more years for your stay at Sungai Buloh later.

    Posted 4 years ago by Wei Kuan Tan · Reply