Najib's RM27mil case: High Court to decide on discharge bid today
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court is expected to deliver its decision today on Datuk Seri Najib Razak's application to strike out three money laundering charges involving RM27 million linked to SRC International Bhd.
Judge K. Muniandy will rule on whether to grant a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) or allow the trial to proceed in full against the former prime minister over the charges, which relate to funds allegedly channelled into his personal bank account in 2014.
A DNAA means the accused is released from the charges without being formally acquitted, leaving the door open for future prosecution for the same offences.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9am.
Najib's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, had recently requested the court to grant a DNAA due to the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the case.
This follows the Attorney-General's Chambers' decision to reject Najib's representation letter seeking to have the charges, filed in 2019, dropped.
At the last hearing, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul informed the court that while the prosecution was prepared to proceed with a full trial, more time was needed to organise documents related to the case.
However, Shafee argued that granting a DNAA would be the most appropriate course of action for now, allowing the prosecution to resume proceedings once all documents are in order and it is fully prepared to move forward.
Najib was charged on Feb 3, 2019 with three counts of money laundering involving RM27 million, allegedly received through three AmPrivate Banking accounts at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, AmBank Group Building, Jalan Raja Chulan, on July 8, 2014.
He was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which carries a maximum fine of RM5 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both upon conviction.
The former Umno president is currently serving a prison sentence in Kajang for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds.
He filed a petition for a royal pardon on Sept 2, 2022. On Jan 29 this year, the Pardons Board reduced his sentence from 12 years to six and lowered his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sinar Daily
an hour ago
- Sinar Daily
Najib granted DNAA in RM27 million SRC case
KUALA LUMPUR - The High Court here today granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over three money laundering charges involving RM27 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. Justice K. Muniandy made the decision after allowing Najib's application for the DNAA. The High Court here today granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over three money laundering charges involving RM27 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. - Bernama photo A DNAA means the accused is temporarily discharged from the charges, but may still be prosecuted for the same offences in the future if the prosecution decides to reinstate them. In his ruling, Judge Muniandy noted that the case against Najib has been pending since 2019 without a single witness being called. Instead, it has been marked by persistent postponements, indicating that the prosecution is not prepared to proceed. "Yet the prosecution is still not prepared to prosecute the case in the near future, as it has yet to procure and gather the necessary documentary proof to be used as evidence against the accused. The prolonged wait for trial has become a drawn-out ordeal for the accused, denying him a timely resolution," he said. The judge also noted that the charges relate to offences allegedly committed in 2014, and yet, as of 2025, the case has still not proceeded to trial, a delay the court viewed with concern. "By virtue of these factors, the most appropriate order was for this court to discharge the accused without acquitting him, so that he is not burdened with the charges currently preferred against him. "In fact, there is no prejudice to the prosecution with this discharge, which in common parlance, is referred to as a DNAA, as it may still proceed with the case once it is ready to do so," he said. Last week, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul informed the court that the Attorney-General's Chambers had rejected Najib's representation to drop the charges. However, he requested the court to set longer trial dates to allow time for compiling the voluminous trial documents. In response, Najib's counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, suggested that the court grant his client a DNAA in the interest of justice, noting that the trial has been repeatedly postponed since 2019. Speaking to the press after the proceedings, Muhammad Shafee said Najib welcomed the court's decision, as it meant fewer charges now hanging over him. "Najib said he can now focus on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case," he said. Najib was present in court today. On Feb 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial to three charges of money laundering by accepting illegal proceeds amounting to RM27 million through his three AmPrivate Banking accounts at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, AmBank Group Building, Jalan Raja Chulan on July 8, 2014. The former Pekan MP was charged under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which is punishable by a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction. Najib is currently serving a jail term in Kajang Prison for the misappropriation of RM42 million in the SRC International funds case. On Sept 2, 2022, he filed a petition for a royal pardon, which led to the Pardons Board halving his jail term from 12 to six years and reducing the fine from RM210 million to RM50 million on Jan 29, 2024. - BERNAMA
![[UPDATED] 'Fewer cases hanging over him': Najib happy with SRC DNAA](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2FDATUK_SERI_NAJIB_TUN_RAZAK_1750387182.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[UPDATED] 'Fewer cases hanging over him': Najib happy with SRC DNAA](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] 'Fewer cases hanging over him': Najib happy with SRC DNAA
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak is happy that he had been given the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over three money laundering charges RM27 million linked to SRC International Bhd. Najib's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said the former prime minister is pleased with the decision of High Court judge K. Muniandy, who had issued the DNAA order today. "He is happy simply because there are not too many cases hanging over his head. He has been asking for a DNAA for sometime. "He can concentrate on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case now," said Shafee in a press conference after court proceedings. Shafee said the prosecution cannot appeal against Muniandy's decision today. "If they are ready, then they can recharge. But, we hope they do not. "There is enough prejudice on Najib. We implore the Attorney-General to use his good office and discretion to close this matter," he said. Najib, however, will return to prison. "For this case, he is freed. But because he is serving another jail term, he goes back to jail," Shafee added. Shafee said Najib was charged in 2019 but the case was postponed multiple times over the years despite close to 30 days of trial set for proceedings. "At last, the judge said the prosecution had conveyed to him in May that although they want to proceed with the case, they are not ready yet. "This is because there are many documents, up to 500 pages, not in their hands because those documents are also required in the other SRC case, SRC civil case and cases involving others, so it (the documents) is everywhere. "So when the judge asked if the documents could be obtained as soon as possible, the prosecution could not commit because they do not know when themselves," he said. Shafee said Najib should have been charged for the offences in the first case of SRC involving RM42 million, where he was later sentenced to 12 years jail and fined RM210 million. However, the Federal Territories Pardons Board reduced Najib's fine to RM50 million and halved his 12-year jail term to six. "These three charges came later from the first SRC charge. Otherwise, Najib could have had a different outcome and he does not have to face a double journey. "The prosecution should have known whether the charges were connected. In fact, they knew, but somebody forgot to bring it up to the same court for one joint case. "As we know, money laundering charges cannot stand on their own. It has to be always associated with a predicate offence," he said.
Malaysiakini
an hour ago
- Malaysiakini
Najib gets DNAA in SRC money laundering case
The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak today over three money laundering charges involving RM27 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. Judge K Muniandy made the ruling after allowing Najib's application for the DNAA. A DNAA means the accused is temporarily discharged...
