Umno leader calls for probe into AGC's weaknesses over Najib decision
PETALING JAYA : Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi has called for the Attorney-General's Chambers' shortcomings to be investigated, following the granting of a conditional discharge to Najib Razak over charges of money laundering.
Puad said the High Court's decision yesterday was an embarrassment to the AGC, coming after Najib's trial was postponed for six years. He said the case was overseen by three attorneys-general, and asked: 'Where is the AGC's credibility?'
He also questioned why the AGC had gone ahead with pressing charges against Najib if the prosecution was not prepared. However, he dismissed a call by former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli for the prosecution to confirm that charges would be refiled against Najib as soon as possible.
'The issue here isn't about refiling charges, but the reasons the discharge was granted,' Puad said. 'The (AGC's) weaknesses should be looked into.'
Earlier this evening, Pejuang called for a special committee to be set up to review high-profile cases, especially those involving politicians facing criminal charges who are granted a conditional discharge. The party's information chief, Rafique Rashid Ali, said the panel should determine if there are any questionable elements affecting the integrity of the high-profile cases.
The High Court, granting Najib a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on Friday, said there had been a plethora of postponements since the case was brought against Najib in 2019, indicating that the prosecution was not ready.
The AGC later stated that the need to secure documents required as evidence left it with no other option but to agree to the discharge.
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