PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has accused authorities of unfair treatment in the handling of evidence related to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) financial scandal during his ongoing corruption trial.
The former prime minister claimed he faced allegations already resolved in a previous case, citing his acquittal alongside former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy in 2023. This case involved accusations of tampering with the 2014 audit report and removing financier Low Taek Jho's name from a 2009 board meeting.
"I was acquitted at the end of the prosecution's case after the court found no evidence against me. Yet, in 2024, the same allegations resurfaced, becoming grounds for adverse inference and criticism against me in this trial," Najib told Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah when testifying in his corruption trial for misappropriating billions of funds belonging to the company.
The former Pekan member of Parliament said this situation raised serious concerns about the fairness of this proceeding and the findings made or to be made against him.
"This is no longer about my feeling of being unfairly treated, I know for a fact that I am being unfairly treated.
Najib criticised what he described as a disregard for the principle of double jeopardy.
"The concept of double jeopardy clearly wasn't extended to me. I am defending myself again against resolved allegations. How is this fair? I am beneath the law, not above it," he said.
The trial was briefly adjourned after Najib's lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, informed the court that his client had been unwell due to sleepless nights.
"My client hasn't been sleeping for the past three to four days due to anticipation of this morning's (royal addendum) proceedings. He's not feeling well," Shafee said.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib, raised no objections to the adjournment.
Najib faces four charges of abusing his position to receive RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial continues.