Bar to challenge Najib's commuted sentence in court

 

The Malaysian Bar will file a legal challenge in court against the Pardons Board’s decision to halve former premier Najib Abdul Razak’s sentence for his SRC International corruption conviction.

Newly minted Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab said a motion on the matter was passed in its 78th annual general meeting (AGM) today after receiving an “overwhelming majority”.

Speaking at a press conference today, Ezri said the Malaysian Bar will file a judicial review on the matter within these two weeks.

“Our duty is to protect the rule of law,” he told reporters after the conclusion of the AGM at Menara Kembar Bank Rakyat today.

“We are only filling the judicial review on the Pardons Board and not on the decision made by the Agong. The manner and how it was conducted,” he said.

Ezri said this is because many were unhappy with the Pardons Board’s decision.

“So, the judicial review is to ascertain what is the right thing that should happen,” he added.

The resolution was filed by former Bar president Zainur Zakaria and seconded by former Bar president Yeo Yang Poh.

Partial pardon sparks firestorm

In February, the Pardons Board halved Najib’s 12-year jail sentence to six and reduced the original RM210 million fine to RM50 million - which is a whopping 76 percent.

The board’s decision means that the former Pekan MP’s official release date has been brought forward to August 2028.

However, Najib could be released earlier on “good behaviour” in August 2026 after serving two-thirds of his sentence.

The 70-year-old landed in prison after the Federal Court upheld his sentence and conviction in the SRC International case in August 2022.

He is also on trial for other matters related to the 1MDB scandal.

The decision ignited a firestorm of protests and courted criticism from various quarters.

However, Najib and those aligned with him were disappointed that a full pardon was not granted.

Recalling the words of her father upon learning the decision, Nooryana said her father told her that he was “disappointed, very, very disappointed”.

“You know, Yana, the worst feeling is when you are in shock and there is no one around to speak to. You are lost in your thoughts, all alone,” she quoted Najib as stating.

Sosma boycott

The motion to challenge the Pardons Board’s decision was among six resolutions out of nine that were passed at the AGM today.

Ezri said that the AGM had also unanimously approved a motion to condemn the government on the proposed “regressive” amendments to the citizenship laws.

Other resolutions passed include two motions proposed by former Bar president Karen Cheah on the Continuing Professional Development Scheme and for the Malaysian Bar to function as a self-regulatory body in matters related to anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.

Meanwhile, the other two motions passed include growing concern over the government’s delay in repealing draconian laws and bringing about needed reforms to ensure justice in the country and the boycott of Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) cases as a strategy to expedite the repeal of this law.

Ezri, who previously served as the Bar Council’s vice-president, was elected as the new Malaysian Bar president at the AGM today.

Meanwhile, B Anand Raj has been elected as the vice-president. Anand had previously served as the council’s secretary. - Mkini