DR Mahathir Mohamad should not be a hypocrite by issuing statements professing to be confused over the decision to grant Riza Aziz a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, said Takiyuddin Hassan.
The de facto law minister said Dr Mahathir’s actions are unbecoming of a former prime minister.
“The government hopes Dr Mahathir will not be a hypocrite and say he is confused and did not understand the decision by the attorney-general and executed by the deputy public prosecutor in charge of the case,” he said in a statement today.
He said the Perikatan Nasional administration will continue to act in accordance with the law and respect the independence of the judiciary.
Putrajaya has struck a deal with Riza, who is former prime minister Najib Razak’s stepson, to drop the charges against him in return for the recovery of overseas assets linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal that are estimated at US$107.3 million (RM465.3 million).
Following the agreement, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court allowed an application by the prosecution for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal with regard to charges made on July 5 last year.
Riza, who faced five counts of laundering up to US$248 million in 1MDB-linked funds via Red Granite Pictures, a Hollywood production house that he co-owned, could have been jailed up to five years and fined a maximum of RM5 million.
Addressing the matter yesterday, Dr Mahathir, in a video posted on Facebook and YouTube, asked how it was possible for someone to steal “billions and billions” and walk free after returning the money, adding that he cannot accept such a decision.
“I just want to say I am confused. I am a lawmaker, a representative of the people in Parliament. But I cannot recall such a law.
“Is this a precedent for the future? Someone gets caught for stealing, he is charged in court, but he says, ‘What I stole, I’ll return them’.
“And we say, ‘OK, OK. We take the stolen stuff and you can walk free’.”
The Langkawi MP said he is worried that moving forward, people “who stole a lot of money” can simply walk free by making similar deals, especially when there are “many thieves who have stolen billions and are awaiting trial”.
“I’m concerned because I can foresee what could happen in the future.” – May 16, 2020.
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Comments
Posted 4 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply
All a lowly Sessions Court judge did was to accept the deal that both the prosecution and the defense said they had mutually agreed to.
No judge in his right mind would have proposed such an unjust solution on his own.
Posted 4 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by Sam SamaSama · Reply
Do expect more of this kind of drama to free those perompak, pencuri, penyanggak. All of them will be laughing all the way to the bank and get to enjoy their ill gotten wealth without any shame.
Religious liars will sell more of their saliva to trick the stupid kapchai riding followers while they drive around in their brand new kafir made Mesidi.
Meanwhile, those retards who regards these morons as their boss will have juggle a few jobs just to make end meets.
Posted 4 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by S Shaf · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by Loyal Malaysian · Reply
Posted 4 years ago by CW L · Reply