My accusers will answer to God on Judgment Day, says Najib

Summary:

• Najib claims accusers will face divine judgment for falsehoods.

• Blames 1MDB scandal on Jho Low and management, denies involvement.

• Court requires Najib to defend against RM2.27 billion charges.

1MDB TRIAL | Najib Abdul Razak reminded his accusers that they will need to answer to God on Judgment Day.

The former prime minister this afternoon told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that this is the fate of the alleged perpetrators of the politically motivated RM2.27 billion abuse of power and money laundering case against him.

“My rivals and those who caused injustice against me may be able to convince the world and feel proud of their temporary victory, but they cannot deceive the All-Powerful, who sees everything.

“On the Day of Judgment, they will be held responsible for their lies, treachery and violation of justice and the law.

“It cannot be denied in my belief that the rulers and those in power, the country’s rulers and judges, will be ‘dihisab’ (judged) and questioned first (on judgment day).

“However I believe that this priority is not due to positions or their bloodline and lineage, but because each human being is the same before God,” Najib told trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

No knowledge

The accused contended he has neither knowledge nor involvement in wrongdoing, and that the embezzlement at 1MDB was solely perpetrated by fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) and members of the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund’s management.

Najib today listed a few of the alleged accusers of falsehood that would answer to God in the Hereafter, among them several key witnesses who testified against him.

Among them were 1MDB’s former CEOs Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, its former chief financial officer Azmi Tahir, its former general counsel Jasmine Loo, its former chairperson Mohd Bakke Salleh, its former director Ismee Ismail, former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former finance minister II Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, and former Finance Ministry deputy secretary-general Siti Zauyah Mohd Desa.

“They have swapped the facts with falsehood and stories for their own freedom as well as to cover up their weaknesses and mistakes.

“However, they live free with no action under the law nor feel any regrets, furthermore their wrongdoings and inefficiencies were ignored,” Najib lamented.

The ex-Pekan MP however explained that he is not a vengeful type to lower himself and government institutions for revenge.

“My focus is always on national development and the welfare of the people, not to get involved in disputes or malice.

“My political rivals who are full of vengeance continue to exploit the system that they control, not only against me but also other individuals who are unable to defend themselves,” Najib lamented.

Answerable case

On Oct 30, the criminal court ordered Najib to enter his defence over four abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion of funds from 1MDB.

Sequerah ruled that the prosecution succeeded in establishing a prima facie (answerable) case against Najib over the Minister of Finance Incorporated’s (MOF Inc) wholly owned company.

The judge ruled that Najib had to answer the charges due to the strength of the various 50 witness testimonies during the prosecution stage of proceedings that lasted six years since the trial began in 2019. The accused was first charged in 2018.

Najib is serving a six-year jail sentence over a separate abuse of power case involving RM42 million of funds from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib prosecuted, while lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah acted for Najib.

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