Lawyers defending Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case told the High Court that the former prime minister was the victim of a scam by fugitive businessman, Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, senior management of the company and ‘rogue’ bankers.
Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is leading the defence team, said his client’s case has become complicated simply because of the personality involved, namely Najib.
He said because it was Najib, there is a lot of prejudice drawn against him, like what the prosecution had said that being a man of knowledge, a man of finance, he should be aware of money coming into his accounts.
“I must say that the truth of the matter in our defence is that it has become complicated for us to produce the best defence possible,” he said.
Muhammad Shafee, in his reply to rebut the prosecution’s submission, also said that Najib himself was a victim of a scam and series of misrepresentations by the likes of Jho Low and Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil (former CEO of SRC), other senior management of SRC and a bunch of ‘rogue’ bankers like Joanna Yu (former relationship manager of AmBank).
The lawyer further said it was an extremely cumbersome and a difficult defence because Najib was surrounded by the people who committed the scam in which he himself was a victim.
“It is easy for everyone, including the court, to be so fortified in this belief that the circumstances surrounding Datuk Seri Najib would deprive him of the defence that would otherwise be available to the common man, who is not a sitting Prime Minister,” he said.
Muhammad Shafee also cited a judgment by the late Justice Tun Mohamed Suffian Mohamed Hashim in a criminal case as an example of how a court makes a decision after a full trial.
Muhammad Shafee said that judgment had stated five principles and asked the court to consider only two of them, that “if you accept or believe the accused's explanation... acquit, and if you do not accept or believe the accused's explanation but nevertheless it raises in your mind a reasonable doubt as to his guilt.... acquit.”
The lawyer also pointed out the time frame of about three and half years between the disbursement of RM4 billion loans from Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) to SRC and the transfer of RM42 million to his client’s accounts.
“The entire disbursement took place on August 29, 2011 and the entire RM2 billion was disbursed in four tranches no doubt, but on the same day.
“The second RM2 billion was disbursed on March 28, 2012. Bearing in mind, the RM42m was three and a half years later.
“I want to ask this question. Wouldn’t the most powerful man, if he was like that, namely corrupt in that sense, wouldn't he say look, I’m giving you RM4 billion, you better give me the RM42 million upfront or even a day or two before this thing is done. Is this a pathological corruption?” asked the lawyer.
Najib is facing seven charges of misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds, comprising three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT), three counts of money laundering and one count of abuse of position in relation to the SRC funds.
The Pekan MP allegedly committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Ambank Group Building, No 55, Jalan Raja Chulan here, and at the Prime Minister's Office, Precinct 1, Putrajaya, between Aug 17, 2011, and March 2, 2015.
Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali asked the defence to wind up its submission tomorrow.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Jun 04 2020
Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said his clients case has become complicated simply because of the personality involved, namely Najib. - BERNAMA photo
Fahmi kesal Universiti Malaya jemput penceramah cetus kontroversi berkaitan Palestin
Beliau kesal terhadap Universiti Malaya kerana menjemput seorang penceramah warga asing yang mengeluarkan kenyataan mencetuskan kontroversi berkaitan Palestin.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Mendiang Joanna Felicia disemadi dengan istiadat ketenteraan
Keranda mendiang diturunkan sekitar jam 11.20 pagi selepas upacara keagamaan berakhir, diikuti kawad hormat bersenjata disempurnakan oleh 12 pegawai dan anggota TLDM yang berpangkalan di Kuching.
DNB umum ahli lembaga pengarah baharu merangkumi lima pengendali rangkaian mudah alih
DNB melantik ahli lembaga pengarah baharu, yang terdiri daripada pemimpin-pemimpin kanan industri telekomunikasi dan teknologi.
Warga emas maut langgar penghadang besi di Gua Musang
Seorang lelaki warga emas maut selepas kenderaan dipandunya terlanggar penghadang besi di Jalan Persiaran Raya susur Taman Damar, Gua Musang.
Tun Abdullah dimasukkan ke IJN, dalam keadaan stabil - Keluarga
Keadaan Abdullah dilaporkan stabil dan masih dirawat di Unit Penjagaan Koronari (Coronary Care Unit).
[TERKINI] Tun Abdullah dimasukkan ke IJN, keadaan stabil
Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi telah dimasukkan ke Institut Jantung Negara pada Rabu kerana mengalami Small Spontaneous Pneumothorax.
[TERKINI] UM mohon maaf, ambil tindakan segera tangani situasi
Universiti Malaya kesal dengan kenyataan kontroversi penceramah jemputan warga asing yang tidak menghormati sentimen masyarakat seperti tular dalam laman media sosial.
Malaysia-Jepun tekad perkukuh kerjasama dalam sektor pembinaan
Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi berkata perjanjian persefahaman dapat membuka peluang kepada pemain sektor pembinaan Malaysia meneroka pasaran Jepun selaras dengan pelaksanaan Perjanjian Komprehensif dan Progresif bagi Perkongsian Trans-Pasifik (CPTPP) dengan kedua-dua negara adalah ahlinya.
Hati-hati akaun fleksibel, guna sewaktu persaraan - Pakar
Pencarum seharusnya lebih berhati-hati dan merancangan kewangan dengan lebih baik susulan pengenalan akuan fleksibel Kwsp yang baharu.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Jasad Sivasutan selamat disemadikan
Jasad mendiang turut diberikan kawalan kehormat oleh 14 pegawai dan anggota TLDM sebagai penghormatan terakhir.