Najib Abdul Razak today got court leave for temporary return of his passport so he could travel to Singapore and provide support for his daughter, who is expected to give birth there.
A three-person Court of Appeal bench chaired by Kamaludin Md Said this morning unanimously allowed the former prime minister’s application, for release of the passport from Oct 20 to Nov 22.
Kamaludin ruled today that the explanation by the former premier’s legal team, for the temporary release of the passport so that Najib could be with and give support to his daughter Nooryana Najwa, who is expected to give birth in Singapore in early November, is reasonable.
“In this matter, the prosecution has no objection, and we find the explanation reasonable for the application, so application is allowed,” Kamaludin said. The other members of the panel are P Ravinthran and Abu Bakar Jais. The DPP present today was Mohd Fairuz Johari.
Last week, Najib’s legal team filed the application for a temporary return of his passport, as the travel document is being held by the Court of Appeal, which previously heard his appeal to quash his RM42 million SRC corruption case conviction and sentencing. The decision on the appeal has been reserved for a date yet to be fixed.
On Friday last week, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur allowed a similar application for Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, for temporary access to her passport, so she could be in Singapore and give mental and moral support to Nooryana.
Previously, Rosmah surrendered her passport to the High Court as part of bail conditions, pending the disposal of her corruption trial linked to the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid energy project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
During the brief proceedings before the Court of Appeal this morning, lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah explained that the period sought for the temporary release of the passport is from Oct 20 to Nov 22.
Stated purpose
The lawyer said that Najib would only be able to travel to Singapore on Nov 3, after the Pekan MP has taken part in the parliamentary debate on Budget 2022.
“On Nov 3, he leaves for Singapore, then undergoes (Singapore government-mandated) quarantine of 10 days in Singapore. He could be reunited with his daughter on Nov 14.
“He will return to Kuala Lumpur on Nov 20, giving him six to seven days a week to be with his daughter for the stated purpose.
“Nov 20 is a Saturday. He undertakes to return his passport on Nov 22, a Monday.
“This passport will be returned by an agent, perhaps via my assistance, as he will be under quarantine, so he himself cannot return the passport,” Shafee explained.
When Fairuz told the panel the prosecution has no objection to the application, Kamaludin allowed the application for the temporary return of Najib’s passport.
When Shafee asked about Najib’s existing bail condition that he reports to the nearest police station twice a month, Kamaludin said that they themselves can inform the police station about what transpired before the Court of Appeal today. - Mkini
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