Latest news with #JusticeMuniandy
Free Malaysia Today
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Najib given DNAA in SRC money laundering case
Former prime minister Najib Razak had asked for the three money laundering charges, brought against him in February 2019, to be withdrawn. KUALA LUMPUR : Former prime minister Najib Razak has been granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in his RM27 million SRC International Sdn Bhd money laundering case. Justice K Muniandy made the ruling in the High Court this morning. 'In the present case there is nothing to show that the prosecution is able to proceed with the case for the time being, or proceed within a reasonable time. 'Thus, it is unlikely that the case could proceed expeditiously in the short future. 'The deputy public prosecutor had graciously considered in this Court a question put to him if the prosecution would be prejudiced if an order of DNAA as requested for by counsel for the accused is allowed—and his answer was a resounding no. 'Thus, the circumstances of the case lean in favour of the accused whereby the prosecution as of today is not ready to proceed with the trial of the preferred charges against the accused,' the judge said in his brief judgement. Muniandy also took note that for six years since the case was brought against Najib in 2019, no witness testimony has been pursued but only a plethora of postponements, indicating that the prosecution is not ready with the prosecution of the case. 'Once the accused is charged in court, the charge cannot be hanging over its head for an indeterminate or indefinite period. That would be harsh and illegal,' he said. Last week, Najib's counsel Shafee Abdullah submitted that it was unfair for his client to wait indefinitely for a fixed trial date as the prosecution was unable to provide a timeline to gather exhibits used in the previous SRC trial. The court was told that 807 exhibits were tendered in the earlier SRC trial. Najib, 71, had asked for the three money laundering charges, brought against him in February 2019, to be withdrawn. In a later case which began on April 3, 2019, Najib was slapped with seven charges of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving RM42 million in SRC funds. On July 28, 2020, the High Court convicted the former prime minister of all seven charges. His appeals from conviction and sentence were dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Dec 8, 2021 and the Federal Court on Aug 23, 2022. He received a partial pardon in January last year and is currently serving a reduced six-year prison term.
Free Malaysia Today
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
August hearing for Najib's contempt proceedings against ex-AG
Najib Razak is pursuing contempt proceedings against former attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh over the latter's alleged failure to reveal the existence of a royal decree allowing him to be placed under house arrest. KUALA LUMPUR : The High Court has set Aug 19 to hear Najib Razak's application to cite former attorney-general (AG) Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh for contempt of court. The former prime minister wants the court to hold Terrirudin in contempt for his alleged failure to reveal the existence of a royal decree, made by the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the end of his tenure, placing Najib under house arrest. Justice K Muniandy said the present application, filed on May 21, was not caught by an earlier ruling halting all proceedings in the case pending the disposal of the current AG's appeal to the Federal Court. Justice Hayatul Akmal Aziz, who previously presided over the case, issued the order on April 28. 'The judge (Hayatul) has qualified herself to say that she is leaving it to the discretion of the succeeding judge. 'This court is bound by the earlier order which reflects the intention of the parties and the order. 'Therefore, the earlier order prevails, but it does not include the present contempt application,' he said. Muniandy took over the matter from Hayatul, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal on May 20. During submissions earlier this morning, senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan called for the court not to fix the application for hearing, arguing that it was caught by Hayatul's stay order. In reply, senior lawyer Shafee Abdullah contended that contempt proceedings were independent of the suit, and therefore not subjected to the order. 'So, a contempt application is definitely in a class of its own and it cannot be included within the so-called stay ordered by the court,' he said. On July 28, 2020, the High Court convicted Najib of seven charges and sentenced him to 12 years in prison and a fine of RM210 million. His subsequent appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court were dismissed. On Feb 2 last year, the Federal Territories Pardons Board announced that former king Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had halved Najib's prison sentence to six years, and reduced his fine to RM50 million. However, it made no mention of any decree allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. On Jan 6, Najib obtained leave from the Court of Appeal to begin judicial review proceedings to enforce the former king's decree. Najib is currently serving his reduced jail term at Kajang prison.
