THERE’S no need for a gag order on the media over Najib Razak’s graft case as the judge will know better, Sarawak Report founder and editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown said today.

Rewcastle-Brown, who was at the Jalan Duta court complex in Kuala Lumpur today, told reporters that the judge would know how to stay above news coverage of the former prime minister, who faces a total of seven charges related to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

“I’m sure the judge can do his job normally without being unduly influenced by the media. That’s the usual course of things,” she said.

Sarawak Report had been cited by Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah as one of the publications that could affect the proceedings and outcome of the trial.

Najib’s lawyers are seeking a gag order on the media and the public from commenting on his charges.

The former prime minister, who was also the finance minister and oversaw 1MDB, is facing three counts of criminal breach of trust, one count of corruption and three counts of money laundering in relation to receiving RM42 million from SRC International into his personal accounts.

Since 2015, the UK-based Sarawak Report has published extensively using unnamed sources and citing leaked information on 1MDB.

Access by Malaysian internet users to the website was blocked under the previous Barisan Nasional government.

Rewcastle-Brown said Sarawak Report, as well as other media, had been reporting on the scandal according to the facts known.

“I’ve just reported factually on this case, as have others. None of my reporting on this case has been substantially disproved,” she said.

The hearing on the defence’s submissions for the gag order is ongoing today at the same court complex, where Rewcastle-Brown had been for other matters.

Security was tight around the courtroom where the submissions were being heard, with police barring a group of the former prime minister’s supporters from entering.

The supporters, led by actress Ellie Suriyati who has been a frequent figure at such gatherings, shouted in protest outside the court.

They called the government cowards for not letting them into the courtroom, and questioned the police who blocked them.

“Whose instruction is this? We are Malaysians but are not allowed to enter the court! Why?” they asked. – August 10, 2018.