Najib's RM27mil trial goes ahead after bid to drop charges fails [WATCH]

New Straits Times

a day ago

KUALA LUMPUR: KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's RM27 million money laundering trial involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds will proceed to full trial.
This follows the Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) rejecting the former prime minister's representation letter seeking a review of the charges earlier today.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said that he had been instructed to update the court on the development and confirmed that the prosecution was prepared to proceed with a full trial.
However, he said that the prosecution needed more time to sort out the documents related to the case.
"My instructions are to seek trial dates from this court.
"However, there are 807 exhibits that were tendered in the previous SRC International corruption trial.
"Many of those exhibits are also required for this trial, and compiling them will take some time. We respectfully request a later trial date," he said before Judge K. Muniandy.
Senior lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who appeared for Najib continuously urged the court to grant a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) due to the prolonged delay in the case.
A DNAA means a court releases a person from charges without fully clearing them, allowing for potential future prosecution for the same offence.
"In the interest of justice, I am suggesting the court grant a DNAA.
"The case can proceed once all matters are in order. The prosecution would not be prejudiced," he said.
Muniandy then fixed June 20 to deliver his decision on whether to set trial dates or grant a DNAA.
On Feb 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial to the 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.
He 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.
The former Umno president 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, following which on Jan 29 the Pardons Board halved his jail term from 12 to six years and reduced the fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.