NAJIB Razak will apply to the Court of Appeal for an order to adjourn his criminal trial so that he can perform his “statutory duty” as a lawmaker in Parliament.
The Pekan MP will file a fresh application, following a ruling by Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali on Monday forbidding him from leaving court during hearing of his case.
Najib’s lead counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, told the court today that the defence will require a written copy of Nazlan’s ruling to be included in its affidavit.
The former prime minister had wanted to participate in Dewan Rakyat debates on a bill to compel MPs to declare their assets, as well as one on lowering the voting age from 21 to 18, set to take place in two weeks. The House’s current session runs till July 18.
On Monday, Nazlan ruled that “even though he (Najib) is a member of parliament, he is accused of seven criminal charges”.
The judge added that the court is not preventing Najib from attending Parliament on non-hearing days.
Attorney-General Tommy Thomas opposed the defence’s application, saying Najib must be treated the same way as others accused of criminal offences.
Najib’s charges are linked to RM4 billion in loans issued to SRC International Sdn Bhd in 2011 and 2012, for which he is accused of receiving RM42 million in his personal 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.
Earlier today, Nazlan allowed Najib to participate in a briefing in Parliament scheduled for 1.30pm.
The briefing, for opposition MPs, was on the bill to lower the voting age, Shafee told the court.
The hearing adjourned at 12.35pm, and continued at 2.50pm.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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