Prosecutor argues 4 power abuse charges against Najib valid

1MDB TRIAL | The prosecution has contended that the four 1MDB-linked abuse of power charges against Najib Abdul Razak are valid.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told the Kuala Lumpur High Court about the prosecution's disagreement with the former premier's contention that the criminal charges are flawed.

The prosecutor today submitted that the four charges clearly laid out the place, time, date and Najib's then position as an officer of a public body.

Akram contended that the phrase “in which you have a direct interest” was stated in the charges involving RM2.27 billion of funds from 1MDB.

He told judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that the prosecution will delve into further detail later on this contention.

Previously during oral submissions, Najib's lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah argued the power abuse charges were “fundamentally flawed”.

The lawyer contended that the charges were invalid for not stating specifically what Najib's alleged interests linked to the accused's previous role as premier, finance minister and chairperson of 1MDB's board of advisers were.

Shafee also claimed that the way the charges were framed resulted in Najib being unable to mount a proper defence.

Hearing before Sequerah continues this afternoon.

Najib is on trial not only over the four power abuse charges but also for 21 money laundering counts involving 1MDB’s funds.

The charges

For the four abuse of power charges, the former Pekan MP allegedly committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Bhd’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch in Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

On the 21 money laundering counts, Najib purportedly committed the offences at the same bank between March 22 and Aug 30, 2013.

Minister of Finance (Incorporated) fully owns 1MDB.

The accused was first charged on Sept 20, 2018, and his criminal trial began on Aug 28, 2019.

On May 30 this year, the prosecution closed its case, six years after the former prime minister was first charged in late 2018.

Fifty witnesses took the stand for the prosecution, including 1MDB’s former general counsel Jasmine Loo.

Loo was allegedly part of the inner circle of 1MDB-linked fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low).

Prosecutors claimed that Najib received RM2.27 billion misappropriated from the troubled sovereign wealth fund between 2011 and 2014.

However, Najib’s defence team contended that the former premier had no knowledge of any wrongdoing at 1MDB and that any wrongdoing that may have happened was solely masterminded by Low and members of the fund’s management.

The former finance minister also previously contended that the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia promised the accused financial donation for political purposes.

Power abuse charges do not state Najib's alleged interest - Shafee

Najib withdraws appeal to recuse 1MDB judge

Najib wasn't at bank, power abuse charges defective - Shafee

No AG decision next few months - DPP on Najib's representation