KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s legal team has cried foul over the ‘unfair tactics’ employed by the prosecution over the former prime minister’s criminal case proceedings.
His lawyers claimed that the prosecution handed over a 355-page document and Najib’s written statement on the morning of the court proceedings, despite the defence having requested for it much earlier.
Najib’s led counsel Tan Sri Mohammad Shafee Abdullah said this reflected the prosecution’s unfairness and state of ill-preparation.
Speaking to reporters at the Jalan Duta Court Complex, Shafee said the defence had requested for the documents several times well in advance.
He claimed the prosecution, instead, chose to submit the documents on the morning of the proceedings, instead of on the day he was charged.
“They did not even submit the documents in physical form. The documents came in a CD this morning in the courtroom.
“They also just handed me my client’s written statement today. This should have been given on the day he (Najib) was charged.
“They said the documents were ready long time ago but I only received it today.
“This clearly show that they were not prepared,” he told reporters.
Shafee said due to these circumstances, he had pleaded Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali to ‘go easy’ on setting the trial date.
“We need to review the documents first.
“My client has a right to review the evidence in order for us to make our defence later on,” he said.
The documents are related to several charges, which Najib had claimed trial to on July 4. The charges are linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Najib had claimed trial at the High Court on Wednesday morning to receiving more than RM40 million from illegal proceeds linked to SRC International.
He was alleged to have received RM42 million, in total, at an Am Islamic Bank branch via electronic funds transfer at Jalan Raja Chulan here between Dec 26, 2014, and Feb 10, 2015.
The offence falls under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.
Najib faces a maximum 15 years’ jail and no less than five times the amount of proceeds involved, or a RM5 million fine, whichever is higher, if convicted.
On July 4, Najib claimed trial to three counts of criminal breach of trust and another charge of abuse of power involving RM42 million linked to SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd.