Najib granted bail of RM3.5 million

Bede Hong Bede Hong Updated 5 years ago · Published on 20 Sep 2018 5:19PM · 4 Comments

Former prime minister Najib Razak faces multiple counts of corruption in relation to 1MDB. – EPA pic, September 20, 2018.

NAJIB Razak has been granted bail of RM3.5 million in two sureties after a lengthy argument between the lead prosecutor and the defence lawyer.

Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, told the court that the bail amount could not be settled in full today and suggested that it be paid in instalments.

“We are not sure if can we can make payment today.

“We will pay RM1 million tomorrow. We will start paying RM500,000 from Monday onwards, on each day,” Shafee told sessions judge Azura Alwi.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told the judge that payment by instalment is at the discretion of the court.

Azura granted a request from Shafee to pay an initial RM1 million payment, with subsequent payments to be made from Monday until September 28.

Mohammed Nizar Najib and Mohd Shahrif Arifin are the sureties. 

Case mention and management have been set to November 16 to hear, among others, an application by the defence to transfer the case to the high court. 

Earlier, the prosecution, led by Sri Ram, requested that no bail be granted to Najib, or if its request is not granted, then a bail of RM5 million due to the “seriousness of the charges”.

Najib should also make no appearances at functions and barred from making public statements. 

“This is a case where the accused had the trust of the people of Malaysia and the charges are of a serious nature. The conduct of the accused is described by the attorney-general of the United States as kleptocracy at its worst. 

“The fact that the elected head of a country is charged… is a national crime. It has made Malaysia famous for all the wrong reasons.”

After Gopal said the prosecutors have material showing that Najib had the propensity to interfere with investigations, Shafee stood up and interjected: “I think if my learned friend wants to raise accusations of that sort, it should be put in the affidavit. I don’t think statements like that can be made. Since when is DoJ statement binding in this court?

“You have to put in the affidavit… You can’t even whisper about it.”

Gopal then said Najib, in the past several weeks, has made public statements on social media “attacking the investigation for the purposes of stirring unrest among supporters”.  – September 20, 2018.

Najib Razak's lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, says his client's bail cannot be settled in full today. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, September 20, 2018.

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Comments

  • It should be RM35 million! Don't let him go loose. He is a menace.

    Posted 5 years ago by Awang Bilis · Reply

  • What about Ahmad, Ah Meng, Muthu, Sarjit, Watson and Bung who doesn't have enough money to pay RM20,000.00 bail, can they also pay instalment? Justice for all regardless of your blood line.

    Posted 5 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • How can it be!!! Money Laundering is a non-bailable offence under the Act, why have the Act and don't stick to it???????????????????????????

    Posted 5 years ago by Eddie Cheong · Reply

  • Keep him in jail till full payment of bail

    Posted 5 years ago by Lana Tan · Reply