Najib, Arul Kanda charged over 1MDB audit report 'tampering'
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today in relation to the accusation he ordered the tampering of the 1MDB audit report.
Najib was charged with receiving gratification in the form of protection from ethical, civil or criminal actions against him as a public officer in relation to 1MDB, by ordering the alteration of the final audit report before it is presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)...
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today in relation to the accusation he ordered the tampering of the 1MDB audit report.
Najib was charged with receiving gratification in the form of protection from ethical, civil or criminal actions against him as a public officer in relation to 1MDB, by ordering the alteration of the final audit report before it is presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The alleged offence was committed by Najib between Feb 22 and 26, 2016 at the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya.
He is charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009. Under Section 24 of the same Act, Najib stands to face a maximum 20 years’ jail or a fine or RM10,000 if convicted.
Najib claimed trial to the charge before Sessions judge Azura Alwi.
The prosecution is led by appointed prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram and Ahmad Akram Gharib.
Sri Ram (photo) proposed bail at RM1 million with one surety, but Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah asked that no bail be imposed as, all in all, his client had already forked out RM5.5 million in bail money.
"My client had to borrow money from relatives to pay the bail and we apply that the amount of RM5.5 million as bail money paid in the other cases be applied to this case.
"Furthermore, in (former 1MDB president) Arul Kanda Kandasamy’s case earlier in another court, the bail offered was RM500,000
Sri Ram said the bail for Arul Kanda was for being the abettor, but in this case Najib is the principal offender.
Furthermore, he added, the court should not allow bail sums paid in the other cases to be applicable here as one cannot gain privilege for having more offences charged against one as against a person facing only one charge.
In the end, judge Azura ordered bail at RM500,000 with one surety. Shafee asked for staggered payments to be made but Azura ordered that the bail amount be paid in full today.
In another courtroom, Arul Kanda was charged with abetting Najib in the offence, on the same day and time, before Sessions judge Rozina Ayob.
Arul Kanda also stands to face the same punishment if convicted.
He was allowed to be released on bail of RM500,000, to be paid today, and he was also ordered to surrender his passport.
N Sivananthan appeared for Arul Kanda.
Arul Kanda's 68-year-old father-in-law agreed to post the bail.
Both courts fixed Jan 4 for the mention of the cases and Sri Ram indicated that the prosecution will apply for the joint trial of Najib and Arul Kanda.
