Najib refuses to enter the dock during case management

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak today refused to enter the dock meant for the accused at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court during the case management for his 25 criminal chargesrelated to 1MDB.

The Pekan MP was seen taking a seat on a chair beside the dock and did not move into the dock, even after being asked politely to do so by a police officer on duty who approached him upon the prosecution's order.

When contacted after the proceeding, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told Malaysiakini that Najib was "being stubborn" and should have entered the dock as he is the accused.

“At first I did not realise that Najib was not sitting at the dock, as I was facing the judge. But (lead prosecutor) Gopal Sri Ram noticed when he turned around and told me about it.

“So I told the police officer on duty to ask him (Najib) to get into the dock, and I thought he had adhered to the police officer's order.

“Only when the proceeding was almost over that I noticed that he still did not (enter the dock),” said Akram.

The DPP said police could have taken action to force Najib to sit in the dock, but added that it was a matter of courtesy and they decided not to stir up a fuss as the proceeding was only for a short period of time.

Malaysiakini has contacted Najib's defence counsel Shafee Abdullah for comments on the incident.

During the proceeding, Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi set Nov 27 for Najib's 1MDB cases to be mentioned in the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

She had earlier been informed by Sri Ram that High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali had agreed for the case to be transferred there from the Sessions Court.

Justice Azura also heard from Sri Ram that the prosecution still has 20 percent of documents for the money-laundering case and 15 percent documents for graft case to be served to the defence.

On Sept 20, Najib was slapped with 21 money-laundering charges involving RM2.08 billion, and four counts of abusing his position to obtain RM2.28 billion from 1MDB. - Mkini