FORMER prime minister Najib Razak pleaded not guilty to three charges of money laundering in relation to SRC International, a former subsidiary of scandal-plagued 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Najib claimed trial after three charges of money laundering amounting to RM42 million were read out at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court earlier today.

He was charged under Section 4(1) the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Each charge carries a maximum fine of RM5 million, imprisonment of up to 15 years or both upon conviction.

In case management presided by high court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, deputy public prosecutor Manoj Kurup requested that all the charges Najib faces be heard together.

The former finance minister now faces a total of seven charges, the earlier four on July 4 being three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of misusing his position under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act.

Nazlan ruled that bail for Najib’s earlier four graft and power abuse charges be extended and that no extra payment be made.

He also set a hearing for the defence’s gag order application for Friday, after which the dates for trial will be heard.

The prosecution also applied to amend the four previous graft and power abuse charges against Najib. 

The charges would remain – except the words “public officer” – which have been removed and amended to “agent”.

Present at the public gallery were Najib’s children Nizar, Norashman and Nooryana Najwa. His supporters were not allowed into the public gallery.  

Najib’s lead counsel Shafee Abdullah told the court that the defence has yet to receive the prosecution’s 355 documents relating to Najib’s four charges.

He further called for another case management hearing to fix trial dates. Shafee told the court that his team is only free by February.

Shafee also accepted the defence’s proposal that all the charges be heard together. 

However, he raised issue regarding the transfer of Justice Sophian Abdul Razak, the judge who originally presided over the graft charges and was originally slated to hear today’s case management.

Sophian was transferred out from the Kuala Lumpur High Court Commercial Crimes Division effective August 1 and replaced by Nazlan.

Shafee referred to a letter, issued yesterday to Chief Judge of Malaya Zaharah Ibrahim, questioning the judicial administration procedures.

“What is ironical and interesting is that neither the prosecutors nor us that asked for the recusal of justice Sophian,” Shafee told the court today.

He said Sophian should have been allowed to recuse himself or invited the two legal parties to discuss the matter. Shafee also criticised the Malaysian Bar for its silence over the issue and questioned the timing of the transfer. 

“In a so highly publicised (case) involving a former prime minister, I would have thought that the (court) administrative of Putrajaya would have have been more sensitive,” Shafee told the court.  

“I have received a copy of your letter today and I intend to say no more about it,” Nazlan said. 

Najib now faces a total of seven charges, the earlier four on July 4 being three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of misusing his position under the MACC Act.

If found guilty on all charges, he may face up to 125 years imprisonment should the sentences run consecutively. 

Najib is the first former prime minister to be on criminal trial. – August 8, 2018.