THE prosecution has withdrawn its application for a court order compelling Najib Razak to apologise for Facebook posts in which he commented on the RM3.3 million racked up on his credit card in 2014.

Deputy public prosecutor Ishak Mohd Yusoff informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court of the matter today, after the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial.

No reason was given for the withdrawal.

Lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said a strike-out application by Najib will also be withdrawn.

“Although there is no gag order, the accused is advised to refrain from making comments on social media without first seeking legal counsel, or else, you may run afoul of the law,” said presiding judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.

“Posting evidence borders on contempt.”

The former prime minister last month commented on the testimony of an AmBank official, who provided evidence that a credit card in Najib’s name was used to purchase €750,000 (RM3.3 million) worth of items from De Grisogono, a Swiss luxury jeweller, in Italy.

Najib said he had bought gifts for an unnamed royal and her entourage.

“Their family and entourage were with us during our family’s visit to Italy.”

Attorney-General Tommy Thomas had said the posts were sub judice, and demanded that Najib apologise.

“We want an apology for the posts and an undertaking that he won’t do it in the future.”

Najib is on trial for allegedly receiving RM42 million in SRC International funds in 2014 and 2015. The money was funnelled from RM4 billion in loans to the entity, said prosecutors.

Najib, who is also former Umno president, has been slapped with three counts of money-laundering, three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of power.

He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment upon conviction. – August 9, 2019.