NAJIB Razak’s lead defence lawyer Mohamed Shafee Abdullah has asserted the accuracy of his media statement issued on Monday over the prosecution’s alleged non-disclosure of five transactions from Saudi Arabia to the defendant.

Shafee apologised to ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram and the Kuala Lumpur High Court earlier today over the misunderstanding his statement had potentially caused.

He, however, said he will continue to issue statements as long as it is not in contempt of the court.

“The media statement is accurate. It just stated that the prosecution failed to produce the five transactions (from Saudi Arabia),” he said.

On Monday, at a press conference, Shafee said the prosecution had failed to disclose to the defence the particulars of five subsequent transactions that the defence had obtained through its own investigation.

Shafee said the transactions were funds that jailed ex-prime minister Najib had received in his Ambank account from the Saudi Finance Ministry and Prince Faisal Turki Bandar Al Saud.

The five transactions amounted to about US$180 million (RM837 million).

Sri Ram said he had no problem with Shafee saying the prosecution didn’t give evidence, but insisted it must be done in court.

“I prefer he brings it to court. Because we have to fight the case here and not in the media.

“If he had any complaints, he should bring it before the judge, because I can’t respond to this (in public), but only before the judge.”

Yesterday, Sri Ram said Shafee had misled the media by claiming the prosecution had failed to disclose evidence.

Sri Ram said the letters the defence claimed were not produced had already been submitted to the defence during Najib’s SRC International Sdn Bhd trial and rejected by the court.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah then told both parties to end the matter if there are no other issues.

Najib is standing trial for corruption involving RM2.28 billion in 1Malaysia Development Bhd funds. He faces 25 charges – four for abuse of power and 21 for money laundering – for offences committed between 2011 and 2013. 

He is currently serving 12 years in Kajang Prison, having been convicted of misappropriating SRC International funds. – October 5, 2022.