THE High Court today granted Najib Razak RM1 million bail and ordered him to surrender both his diplomatic passports.

Justice Sofian Abd Razak ordered that Najib pay half the bail amount today and the rest by Monday.

“The court is of the fair and just view that the bail should be RM1 million and the accused should surrender both diplomatic passports,” he told the court. 

Najib’s children – Nooryana and Norashman – stood as sureties. 

Najib’s lawyer Shafee Abdullah told the court that his client would submit both his passports, which he has had since becoming minister. 

“He has two passports because he was prime minister and a minister. Both are diplomatic passports. Most prime ministers have (two). He will surrender both. He is honest enough to tell me and hand it over to the court,” he said. 

He also requested an interim gag order on the case for the media, covering the publication of statements or material on the merits of the case.

Sofian permitted the gag order but said Shafee would need to formally apply for it within 14 days. 

This was opposed to by lead prosecutor and Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, who said such a move went against the Federal Constitution.

“We are not convinced that Malaysian courts have jurisdiction on issuing a gag order. Our Constitution, Section 10 (1a), covers freedom of expression of speech. 

“We will object strenuously. The rest of the world is talking about it. The rest of the world will be commenting on the case and Malaysians will be keeping quiet. They need to make a formal application that we will vigorously oppose,” he told the court. 

Sofian set case management for Najib’s case on August 8, and set tentative dates for the trial to start next year.

The proposed dates of the trial were given as February 18 to 28, March 4 to 8 and 11 to 15, for a total of 19 days. 

This, too, was opposed to by Thomas in his press conference later, who said it was “premature” as it was only first day of trial. – July 4, 2018.