- Title: Malaysia’s Najib clueless about millions banked into his account, lawyers say
- Date: 23rd October 2019
- Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (OCTOBER 23, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FORMER MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER NAJIB RAZAK GETTING OUT OF CAR AND ARRIVING AT KUALA LUMPUR HIGH COURT WITH OFFICIALS VARIOUS OF NAJIB AND OFFICIALS WALKING INTO SECURITY STANDING OUTSIDE COURTROOM SIGN READING (Bahasa Malaysia): "CRIMINAL HIGH COURT 3" NAJIB EXITING ELEVATOR AND ENTERING COURTROOM POLICE STANDING ON GUARD IN FRONT COURTROOM MEDIA NAJIB'S LAWYER, SHAFEE ABDULLAH, WALKING TOWARD MICROPHONES MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER, SHAFEE ABDULLAH, SAYING: "And, the fact that it is three years later, who accepts bribes three years later? Nobody does that. If I want a bribe, I want a bribe now. Especially if I am the approving authority, I want the bribe now. Why should I wait for three years later? It doesn't make sense." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWYER, SHAFEE ABDULLAH, SAYING: "Who takes money and sends it back? It doesn't constitute a guilty mind. And then when you open all the accounts, all the four accounts, the first one and then the second, three accounts, he informed Bank Negara, he informed nothing less than the Bank Negara governor. Because the head of Ambank actually went to see Tan Sri Zeti and informed (her) that this is what the prime minister wanted to do." PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PHOTOS PUBLIC PROSECUTOR V. SITHAMBARAM AND LEGAL OFFICIALS WALKING TOWARD MICROPHONES (SOUNDBITE) (English) PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, V. SITHAMBARAM SAYING: "Well that's his case, that he was fooled or duped. As far as we are concerned, the only person benefiting from all this is the accused from the evidence and therefore the question of being duped doesn't arise." POLICE STANDING ON GUARD OUTSIDE OF COURTROOM NAJIB EXITING COURTROOM NAJIB AND OFFICIALS WALKING INTO ELEVATOR
- Embargoed: 6th November 2019 09:21
- Keywords: Najib Razak court corruption defence legal lawyer Malaysia
- Location: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- City: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions
- Reuters ID: LVA001B2BFQRR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak did not know that millions of dollars transferred into his personal accounts came from scandal-linked state fund 1MDB, his lawyers said on Wednesday (October 23) as prosecutors wrapped up their first case against the ex-premier.
Najib, who lost a general election last year, is facing dozens of criminal charges over allegations that $4.5 billion was stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state fund he co-founded in 2009.
In the first case against him, Najib has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power over allegations that he illegally received transfers totalling 42 million ringgit ($10 million) from SRC International, a former 1MDB unit. Attorney-General Tommy Thomas said in his closing submissions on Tuesday (October 22) that Najib had misused his positions as prime minister, finance minister and advisor to SRC to obtain the funds.
Defence lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the alleged transfers occurred three years after SRC was set up and questioned why Najib would wait so long to secure the funds.
Prosecutors wrapped up their case against Najib after hearing statements from 57 witnesses. A ruling on whether to acquit or call for him to enter his defence will be delivered on November 11.
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