Former premier Najib Abdul Razak will challenge two civil forfeiture suits filed by Putrajaya and the police against him and several others.
Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, in saying this, claimed that the filing of the suits was "rushed" and unfair to his client.
"We are going to resist and challenge it (the suit). I don't think they can do that," he said when met at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex this afternoon.
Earlier today, it was reported that the federal government and police have filed the suits to seize a total of RM711 million worth of luxury items from Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor, and several individuals.
The luxury items include 27 luxury cars and a property.
Quoting sources, The Edge reported that two notices of motion and supporting affidavits were filed in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to seize the items, purportedly bought with money from state investment fund 1MDB.
In May last year, police seized various items including jewellery and handbags during raids on properties linked to the former prime minister.
Police placed the items’ total value at RM686.37 million, with an estimated retail value of up to RM1.1 billion.
When asked about the suits being filed before Najib's 1MDB trial had concluded in court, Shafee questioned the need for Putrajaya and the police to rush the matter.
"I think they are rushing on everything, which, to begin with, it is not fair.
"I mean, they have to let its own process take place. What is the need to rush everything?
"We are in - how many courts? Five or six courts. I mean, you're putting too much pressure on one man," he said.
Najib: Asset seizure a 'propaganda tool'
Meanwhile, Najib had also posted his opinion on the matter on his Facebook page.
The politician claimed that seizure of the assets was only a part of Pakatan Harapan's propaganda to humiliate him, and that the ruling coalition had failed to find any evidence that the items were purchased using illegal funds.
"After a year of investigation, the Harapan government was unable to find any evidence that the items or cash were from illegal proceeds.
"That is why until today, there was not a single charge pressed (against me) on the items and cash.
"However, Harapan had used the seizure as one of their propaganda tools to humiliate me by alleging that I got the money and items from illegal activities or 1MDB," he said.
He claimed that the total worth of the seized items was nowhere close to RM1 billion.
The former prime minister also alleged that the civil forfeiture suits were filed because Harapan did not intend to return the seized assets, and as such would prove his innocence.
"It is impossible to expect that Harapan will be fair and abide by the rule of law, to return all the items that were seized.
"If they return them, of course the action would confirm that Najib is not corrupt and did not purchase the items using 1MDB money or using ill-gotten monies.
"That is why they are now using civil forfeiture action, instead of criminal proceedings, to avoid returning the items," he said. - Mkini
Najib claims the seizure of the assets was only a part of
ReplyDelete"Pakatan Harapan's propaganda to humiliate him"
HELLO THIEF, YOU HUMILIATED NOT ONLY YOURSELF BUT YOUR POOR MOTHER & YOUR FATHER TUN RAZAK'S GOOD NAME...... Looks like you will never be a "TUN" anything but a good for nothing PM,FAMILY OF THIEVES & A GLOBAL Kleptocrat to boot.
As to Shapee's (PEE IN THE PANTS) claim and astounding statement,
"What is the need to rush everything? "We are in - how many courts? Five or six courts. I mean, you're putting too much pressure on one man,"
WHAT PRESSURE? ISN'T HE A BUGIS WARRIOR (LANUNS), where got pressure mah! WAIT LAH, SO MANY MORE CASES TO HAUNT YOU, Remember how ANWAR & FAMILY felt, when they were on the receiving end of your cowardly sodomy fix-up? Shitfull SHYFULL, lu lari cepat2 keluar, ANWAR BECOMES PM, Lagi teruk u all kena.