NAJIB’S ‘DOGGIE WOOF-WOOF’ LAWYER PRAISES HIMSELF: BUT IF THIS IS THE BEST SHAFEE CAN DO – NAJIB LOOKS SET TO SPEND AT LEAST 20 YEARS IN JAIL

NAJIB Razak’s lead counsel today expressed satisfaction with the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial proceedings so far, saying the defence has scored “brownie points” with some witness testimonies.

Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the defence’s case is on track, and that the team has proven “what we want to prove”.

“Not all, some of them, through the various witnesses. The trial so far has been good from our perspective,” he told reporters at the end of today’s hearing.

“And on top of that, we think we managed to get some brownie points as some witnesses have come up beyond our expectations.”

He said the trial is “only a third” of its way into the roster of witnesses.

“The bigger witnesses have yet to come.”

The trial, presided over by judge Mohd Nazlan Ghazali, has been adjourned to June 10.

The prosecution has called to the stand 38 witnesses thus far.

Ad hoc prosecutor V. Sithambaram told the court earlier this month that the prosecution had about 40 witnesses left.

Shafee pointed to the testimony by Ihsan Perdana managing director Shamsul Anwar Sulaiman, who today said former prime minister Najib appeared “shocked” and “very upset” when told that funds from the government entity had made their way into his personal bank accounts.

“When he told the (then) prime minister, he saw the prime minister’s face change. He was so surprised. He was upset that money that was not supposed to come into his accounts, came into his accounts,” said Shafee.

“He said it was a genuine expression. So much so, that he apologised to the prime minister because he thought in some way, he had failed to alert the prime minister before things happened.

“He said from the prime minister’s reaction, he knew the prime minister did not know the nature of the money or the fact that money came into his accounts.”

Former Retirement Fund Inc CEO Azian Mohd Nor will return to the stand when the trial resumes about a week after the Raya celebrations. The trial will then continue until August 15.

Najib’s charges in this trial relate to the RM4 billion in loans to SRC International made out in 2011 and 2012, for which he is accused of receiving RM42 million in his accounts in 2014 and 2015.

He faces three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money-laundering and one count of abuse of power. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years’ jail.

Najib is represented by a dozen lawyers. Attorney-General Tommy Thomas leads the prosecution.

The former prime minister also faces another 35 criminal charges in four other pending trials, which have been scheduled from August until June next year. The charges involve close to RM9 billion in 1Malaysia Development Bhd-linked funds.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT