KUALA LUMPUR— A police source was adamant Datuk Seri Najib Razak requested to be placed in witness protection when he lodged a police report over alleged danger to his life, after the former prime minister’s denials today.
The source familiar with the document was adamant Najib expressly used the term “witness protection” in his report claiming he feared for the safety of his family over the ongoing probe into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
The person maintained that it was not an interpretation of the 65-year-old Pekan MP’s six-paragraph police report lodged by the latter in Malay at the Sentul district police headquarters here on Friday, but the former PM’s own words.
“At the end of his report, Datuk Seri (Najib) had specifically asked that the authorities guarantee he and his family’s safety and also for them to be put under witness protection due to clear threats made,” the source told Malay Mail today.
The source added that Najib’s report lodged at 5pm was accepted by a police personnel using a manually written police report form.
The report was then transcribed into a police computer verbatim.
“His written report was later keyed-in word-for-word as per the signed report form to the PDRM’s computerised report system under the Sentul police district,” said the source, using the Malay initials for the Royal Malaysia Police.
In the police report sighted by Malay Mail, the exact phrase was contained in the final paragraph of Najib’s report.
“… saya dan keluarga saya mohon keselamatan kami terjamin dan memohon diletakkan dibawah program perlindungan saksi. Sekian terima kasih. (… I and my family request that our safety be assured and request to be placed under the witness protection programme. Thank you),” it said.
The source said if Najib was now denying the request, then the former prime minister should lodge another report to amend his original.
“We have not received any new reports from him (Najib) as of today to amend the current one made,” said the source.
Yesterday, Malay Mail reported Najib as claiming there was a clear threat on his life and his family members and made a formal request to be placed under the witness protection.
Najib claimed in the report that, through his sources, it was learnt that the threats are not only from within the country, but also abroad.
It was also learnt that the threats were from people who were directly and indirectly linked to the 1MDB corruption scandal that is being investigated by at least six countries.
In Malaysia, the witness protection programme comes under the purview of the Witness Protection Act 2009.
The programme aims to ensure that witnesses are adequately protected to allow them to provide effective testimony and to prevent them from coming under duress to withdraw or amend their evidence.
The Act defines a witness as a person who has agreed to provide evidence on behalf of the government in a criminal proceeding.
Under the programme, witnesses are provided security to safeguard their wellbeing and to shield them from others’ criminal acts.
Several criteria must be considered before an application is approved and the person included in the programme.
Najib back in Pekan, denies seeking witness protection over 1MDB probe
KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has denied that he is seeking witness protection over the probe into 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
When doorstepped by reporters at Kediaman Seri Kenangan in Pekan, Pahang, the former prime minister said: “No, no. I’m not.”
This was in response to a question by a reporter if it was true that he was seeking protection.
Online portal Malay Mail reported that Najib asked for witness protection, claiming those linked directly or indirectly to 1MDB funds abroad had made threats to his life and his family members.
The portal, which claimed to have sighted the police report, stated that Najib alleged there was a clear threat on his and his family members’ life and made a formal request to be put under witness protection.
Najib, who is Pekan MP, had reportedly claimed that the threats were not only from Malaysia, but also overseas, and linked to 1MDB.
Federal investigators have been searching properties linked to Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, including the couple’s private mansion in Taman Duta and condo units in Pavilion Residences, all in Kuala Lumpur.
Federal investigators have been searching properties linked to Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, including the couple’s private mansion in Taman Duta and condo units in Pavilion Residences, all in Kuala Lumpur.
The official residence of the Prime Minister in Seri Perdana, Putrajaya and the Prime Minister’s Office in Putra Perdana are also being combed. – ANN
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The confiscated items include several truckloads of boxes containing luxury Hermes, Chanel and Gucci handbags and suitcases with hard cash in various currencies.
Najib has also been blacklisted from leaving the country by the Immigration Department.
Meanwhile, Najib said that the Pekan folk wanted him to visit them because they wanted to show their appreciation and continuous support for him.
“They want me to continue to serve them as an MP. I’m glad to be back, with friends and supporters and people, who have been with me for the last 42 years,” he said.
Najib has four scheduled events in Pekan on Sunday. – ANN
-MALAY MAIL / ANN
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