Najib 1MDB case: Defence closes case, court to hear submissions on Oct 21

PUTRAJAYA - The defence in former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's case involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion belonging to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) closed its case today after calling 26 witnesses.
Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, representing the former premier, informed the court after calling the defence's final witness, a forensic document examiner from PHA Handwriting Analysis Sdn Bhd, Tay Eue Kam, to testify.
"Yang Arif, we officially closed the case after our 26th witness today. Just for Yang Arif's information, the trial of this case began on Aug 28, 2019, while the final day of the prosecution's case was May 30, 2024. The trial lasted 233 days and involved 50 witnesses.
"On Oct 30, 2024, the court ordered Datuk Seri Najib to enter his defence, with the first day of the defence proceedings on Dec 2, 2024 and the last on May 6, 2025, taking a total of 58 days with 26 witnesses," Muhammad Shafee informed the presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
A woman holds a hand fan bearing a photo of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as supporters gather for his appeal hearing outside the Palace of Justice on Jan 6, 2025. - (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP)
Justice Sequerah then set Sept 30 for both parties to submit their written submissions and nine days, beginning Oct 21, for oral submissions. "I trust that the submissions will focus on the main issues raised by the defence, and I don't need to give further instructions.
"All the hearing dates fixed prior to this are hereby vacated," said the judge while thanking parties for assisting the court throughout the trial.
Besides Najib, other key witnesses who testified during the defence trial were former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamarudin, sister to Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu, Tengku Datuk Rahimah Sultan Mahmud, former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, and investigating officer of the case, retired police officer R. Rajagopal, and another investigator from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Fikri Ab Rahim.
Najib, 71, faces four charges of using his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch on Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon here between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.
He is charged under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act and can be punished under Section 24(1) of the same act.
Upon conviction, the former finance minister faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of either five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
For the 21 money laundering charges, Najib is accused of committing the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.
The charges are framed under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million and imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib and Kamal Baharin Omar led the prosecution team.
Najib has been serving a sentence in Kajang Prison since Aug 23, 2022, after being convicted in a separate criminal trial over misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The former Pekan MP petitioned for a royal pardon on Sept 2, 2022, which reduced his 12 years' imprisonment to six years and a RM210 million fine to RM50 million. - BERNAMA

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Sun

24 minutes ago

• The Sun

New applications for revised service, sales tax scope open from Aug 1

KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has announced that new registration applications in relation to the expansion of the service tax scope and the revision of the sales tax rate, effective from July 1, 2025, can be made starting from Aug 1, 2025. For existing registered persons, applications for the addition of new services under the expansion of the service tax scope and tariff codes under the revision of the sales tax rate, which is effective from July 1, 2025, can be submitted beginning June 24, 2025, the ministry said in a post on X today. On June 9, the government announced a targeted review of the sales tax rate and an expansion of the service tax scope, both of which will take effect from July 1. The sales tax rate remains unchanged for essential goods, while a five or 10 per cent rate will be imposed on selected items. Meanwhile, the scope of the service tax will be expanded to include six new services: leasing or rental, construction, finance, private healthcare, education, and beauty services. Treasury secretary-general Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican reportedly said that revenue from the Sales and Service Tax (SST) collection is expected to increase by RM5 billion in 2025 and by RM10 billion in 2026, following the implementation of the SST revised and expanded scope starting next month.

Daily Express

39 minutes ago

• Daily Express

Local man held at KLIA for attempting to smuggle four gibbons

Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. - Pic by Vince_Adam Photography | Flickr PUTRAJAYA: A local man was detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 for attempting to smuggle four exotic animals, believed to be black-handed gibbons worth around RM30,000. The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) said in a statement today that the animals were found inside the 34-year-old suspect's luggage. He was a passenger on a Batik Air flight bound for Mumbai, India, scheduled to depart Friday night. 'The suspect was detained on the spot and taken to the Aeropolis police headquarters for further action,' the statement said. AKPS said the gibbons have been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) for investigation and further action. The case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008. Advertisement The arrest was part of enhanced integrated checks launched this month in collaboration with Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Perhilitan, targeting wildlife smuggling through high-risk aviation entry points. 'AKPS, AVSEC and Perhilitan will continue to tighten security controls at KLIA and will not compromise with any party involved in wildlife trafficking via air routes,' the statement added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Barnama

an hour ago

• Barnama

Local Man Held At KLIA For Attempting To Smuggle Four Gibbons

PUTRAJAYA, June 22 (Bernama) -- A local man was detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 for attempting to smuggle four exotic animals, believed to be black-handed gibbons worth around RM30,000. The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) said in a statement today that the animals were found inside the 34-year-old suspect's luggage. He was a passenger on a Batik Air flight bound for Mumbai, India, scheduled to depart Friday night. 'The suspect was detained on the spot and taken to the Aeropolis police headquarters for further action,' the statement said. AKPS said the gibbons have been handed over to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan) for investigation and further action. The case is being investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and the International Trade in Endangered Species Act 2008. The arrest was part of enhanced integrated checks launched this month in collaboration with Aviation Security (AVSEC) and Perhilitan, targeting wildlife smuggling through high-risk aviation entry points. 'AKPS, AVSEC and Perhilitan will continue to tighten security controls at KLIA and will not compromise with any party involved in wildlife trafficking via air routes,' the statement added. -- BERNAMA