KUALA LUMPUR: Nooryana Najwa, daughter of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has defended her father's recent acquittal in the 1Malaysia Development Funds (1MDB) audit tampering case, addressing those who were skeptical about the verdict.
She pointed out that the judge, Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, who acquitted Najib was the same judge who had previously convicted her mother, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
"The judge who freed my father was the same one who sentenced my mother. He made the decision based on facts and there was no political element at play," a Malay daily quoted her as saying.
Nooryana said this when asked about those who were questioning the court's decision in favour of her father.
Zaini had presided over Najib's trial, in which the former prime minister was accused of abusing his power to amend the finalised 1MDB audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee.
Zaini's verdict stated that the removal of four items from the report did not warrant any civil or criminal proceedings against Najib.
Zaini also presided over Rosmah's corruption trial in connection with the RM1.25 billion project to supply solar hybrid energy to rural schools in Sarawak. He found her guilty in that case.
Najib remained confident of his innocence throughout the trial, said Nooryana.
"So when a judge acts fairly according to the facts, that is when he believes he can get true justice," she said.
Nooryana said the attention has now shifted to the upcoming Federal Court decision on Najib's bid to review his sentence and conviction in the SRC International case.
"I pray that Bossku will get justice and return home to be with us," she said using the nickname by which Najib is popularly known.
On July 28, 2020, Najib was convicted by Justice Datuk Mohd Nazlan Ghazali, then a High Court judge, for abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust charges over SRC funds amounting to RM42 million.
The conviction and sentence was then upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.
Najib, 70, filed a motion to review the apex court's ruling last August on grounds that it had breached the principles of natural justice, including his right to a fair trial and to counsel.