Najib's bid to transfer IPIC-related charges to be heard on Dec 7
The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has fixed Dec 7 to hear former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's application to transfer the charges against him on misappropriation of government funds to repay the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).
The charges also apply to former Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah...
The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has fixed Dec 7 to hear former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's application to transfer the charges against him on misappropriation of government funds to repay the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).
The charges also apply to former Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah.
Judicial Commissioner Roxana Ali Yusof will hear the Najib's application next Friday afternoon.
The date was fixed by deputy registrar Nurliyana Ismail during case management in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.
On Oct 25, Najib and Irwan were jointly charged with six criminal breaches of trust charges in relation to US$1.2 billion (RM6.6 billion) in government funds.
They were alleged to have committed all the offences at the Finance Ministry in Putrajaya between Dec 21, 2016 and Dec 18, 2017.
Senior lawyer K Kumaraendran, who is representing Irwan, told reporters his client has no objection to transferring the case to the High Court.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Izhanuddin Alias appeared for the prosecution while Rahmat Hazlan appeared for Najib.
Deal gone sour
In 2015, Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund IPIC agreed to lend US$1 billion to 1MDB, which at the time was struggling to pay back its bank loans.
The deal later turned sour, and IPIC backed out from the deal and demanded its money back.
1MDB and IPIC reached a settlement in April 2017, which saw the Malaysian firm pay back US$1 billion, plus RM200 million in interest.
After Najib and Irwan were charged, MACC deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki later stated that Najib's administration allegedly redirected government funds, including those meant for the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) programme, to repay money owed by 1MDB to IPIC.
If convicted under Section 409 of the Penal Code, Najib and Irwan stand to face a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment, whipping, and a fine.
However, as both men are over 50 years of age, the whipping punishment does not apply.
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