Najib denies asking Muhyiddin to 'change judges' in SRC trial, appeal

 

Former premier Najib Abdul Razak has denied alleged attempts to influence Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin into interfering with his RM42 million SRC International corruption trial, at the initial stage leading up to a conviction and also at the appeal stage.

Responding to Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan, Najib in a Facebook post said his only meeting with Muhyiddin was held last December to seek clarification over the issue of withdrawals from a worker's Employees Provident Fund Account 1.

Najib said the meeting had taken place three months after he was convicted by the High Court, while three judges who presided over his appeal were only appointed in April this year.

He also pointed out that the Umno Annual General Assembly held in March this year - one month before the appeal was heard - had already decided to withdraw support from PN.

“So, how could it be that I requested to change judges when they were yet to be appointed and Umno has decided to withdraw support for Bersatu?” said Najib, who described Wan Saiful and Muhyiddin as “liars”.

On his High Court trial, Najib said he had only asked Muhyiddin during their December meeting if the Pagoh MP was aware that an “inexperienced judge” from the civil courts had replaced the then presiding judge.

Najib also said he had previously shared about the matter on Facebook, as well as argued in his appeal trial.

Najib was responding to Wan Saiful’s post that quoted Muhyiddin’s speech that declared that the PN government remains intact amid speculations that it has lost majority support.

Further, the Pekan MP challenged for a police report to be lodged with the claim that he had requested Muhyiddin to change judges who presided over his trials.

“State when was it that I had asked Muhyiddin as since the beginning of the year, Umno and I no longer had any desire to be with a government that had repeatedly failed,” said Najib.

Muhyiddin had claimed that his critics were “uncomfortable” with him because he refused to accede to their demands, including interfering with the courts.

“This includes appeals for me to interfere in court matters to free several individuals who are being charged over criminal acts,” said Muhyiddin without mentioning any names.

Najib was among 11 Umno MPs who on Tuesday publicly revolted against Muhyiddin.

Aside from Najib, the 11 MPs include three others facing criminal trials, including Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. - Mkini