FORMER prime minister Najib Razak has urged the people not to be “fooled” by revelations made by government prosecutors that he spent public money on luxury fashion brands, and pledged to produce evidence in court to clear his name.
On the first day of his corruption trial yesterday, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that prosecutors will prove that Najib used his credit card to spend US$130,625 (RM533,276) at a Chanel boutique in Honolulu, Hawaii, in December 2014.
Following the trial, Najib did not address the allegations or speak to the media.
In a Facebook post today, he said he and his legal team have been barred from making statements on social media to defend themselves with regard to the charges.
“All evidence will be revealed in detail in court,” he wrote.
“As such, I ask the people not to speculate or be fooled by these accusations and to be patient in waiting for our answers and evidence in court regarding these accusations soon.
“Only listening to allegations from one party without listening to the explanation from the accused is unfair.”
In his opening speech yesterday, Thomas said personal cheques were also issued for, among others, payment for renovation works carried out at Najib’s No. 11, Jalan Langgak Duta residence in Kuala Lumpur and another home in Pekan, Pahang.
Thomas added that other cheques were issued to Barisan Nasional component political parties.
Prosecutors said Najib spent RM10.78 million via 15 personal cheques from his bank account after several tranches of money amounting to RM42 million were transferred.
Najib, who was also finance minister during his tenure as prime minister, is represented by 12 lawyers, led by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
For the SRC International trial, he faces one charge under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 for abuse of position; three charges under Section 409 of the Penal Code for criminal breach of trust; and, three charges under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 for money laundering.
Najib has pleaded not guilty to all charges. – THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
Ex-IGP Khalid denies lying about missing Malaysians, promises lawsuit against critics
KUALA LUMPUR — Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today threatened legal action against human rights advocacy group Citizens Against Enforced Disappearances (Caged) whom he accused of making malicious and defamatory statements against him.
The former inspector-general of police has consistently stuck to his guns that he did not provide false testimony to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) during its 18-month public inquiry on the disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh and Perlis Hope founder Amri Che Mat.
“I find that Caged’s remark, blindly accusing me of lying to the nation, and I believe that the NGO is accusing me of this, by way of my testimony to the Suhakam inquiry panelists, to be malicious and defamatory.
“In my defence, I would like to clearly state here, that I was not lying in my testimony. I stand by what I had stated to the panel members and I still do,” Khalid said in a statement to Malay Mail.
He demanded an apology from Caged, which is part of non-governmental organisation Suara Rakyat Malaysia.
Khalid said he was not present when Suhakam announced its conclusions that incriminated the police, in particular the Special Branch, as being behind the “enforced disappearances” of the pastor and activist because he was not invited.
However, he said he will cooperate in any future investigations on the two men’s disappearances.
“I was at all times, prepared to attend the inquiry and testify and therefore, this public lynching being done by Caged is grossly unfair to me.
“I demand that they retract their statement and issue an immediate apology. I will consider taking legal action should Caged refuse to do so,” Khalid said.
Caged issued a statement earlier today calling on the Pakatan Harapan government to prove its commitment to institutional reform by taking immediate action on those perpetrators involved in the “enforced disappearances”.
Among others, it urged the home minister suspend the police officers in charge of those cases within the week, including incumbent IGP Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun; the latter was head of the Special Branch at the time Koh and Amri were taken forcibly by unknown men.
Caged also demanded the government investigate Khalid whom it claimed “lied to the nation, and publicly rebuke the police force for boycotting the Suhakam Panel’s announcement and release of its decision yesterday”.
Malay Mail is contacting Caged for its response to Khalid. – MALAY MAIL
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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