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‘1MDB’ Najib’ admits taking money from Arabs
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1, 2024: Disgraced former prime minister and current jail bird Najib “1MDB” Razak’s lead counsel Shafee Abdullah told the High Court here today that Najib used money donated by Arabs for political purposes.
Is that so?
So, does that make it right or legal? So, is the former Umno president Najib now admitting that he took money from the Arabs for politics?
Also, does anyone in his or her right mind believe that the Arabs would donate such a huge amount of money for zero returns?
And, why is he suddenly on a wheelchair in court? To add weight to his appeal for house arrest (read as backdoor freedom)?
No News Is Bad News reproduces below a news report on the court proceedings:
Najib used ‘Arab donation’ for political purposes, not self, court hears
-01 Oct 2024, 12:02 PM
Lawyer Shafee Abdullah says Najib Razak’s use of the money to benefit the public goes ‘against the pathology of corruption’.
Najib Razak is charged with 25 counts of money laundering and abuse of power over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Najib Razak spent the alleged Arab donation money for political purposes, and not for his personal enjoyment, the High Court heard today.
Defence counsel Shafee Abdullah said it is against the pathology of corruption that a person takes money and spends it for the benefit of the public.
“We have proven that 95% of the money was not spent for his personal (benefit).
He did not buy a private plane or treat everyone with champagne at bars, Shafee said during submissions at the close of the prosecution’s case in Najib’s 1MDB trial.
Asked by Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah whether he had legal authority to back his contention, Shafee said it is an inference of facts as Najib’s 1MDB case is without precedent.
He said it was a matter for which the court must make a factual finding.
Now, what does the prosecution have to say, Sequerah asked.
Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Kamal Bahrin Omar told the court the prosecution is only concerned with the fact that the alleged money which entered Najib’s accounts had come from illegal proceeds.
Fellow DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib said whether Najib used the money for political reasons or personal gain was irrelevant, so long as it was used for his advantage.
Najib is charged with 25 counts of money laundering and abuse of power over alleged 1MDB funds amounting to RM2.28 billion deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014.
The hearing continues.
Judge questions Najib's counsel on distinction between personal and political spending
Tuesday, 01 Oct 2024
2:10 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR: The trial judge in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case on Tuesday (Oct) questioned the defence team about the distinction between the former premier’s personal expenses and those for political purposes.
During his submission at the close of the prosecution's case at the High Court, Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah posed the question to Najib’s lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Judge Sequerah: (Is there) any difference between spending for political and personal usage?
Muhammad Shafee: We have proved that 99% of the money in his account was not used for his personal purposes. For instance, he didn’t buy a private plane or treat everybody with champagne in a New York bar, or something like that.
"My Lord, I have to use this word; it is against the pathology of corruption that a person took this money and spent it not for personal use but for the benefit of the public,” he contended, adding that Najib had used RM300mil from 1MDB for the 2013 general election.
At this point, Judge Sequerah questioned the veteran counsel about the existence of any case law backing his argument.
In response, Muhammad Shafee said that "it is an inference of facts" and that no case is quite like Najib's 1MDB case, setting it apart from any precedent.
The judge then asked for the prosecution’s comment on the matter. Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Kamal Bahrin Omar replied that they were only concerned with the fact that the alleged funds, which entered Najib's accounts - came from illegal proceeds.
Fellow DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib added that it did not matter whether Najib used the purported funds for personal or political reasons.
"The law says that it is for his advantage," he said.
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