Puad: Najib faces uphill battle in courts over house arrest bid

Summary

• Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi laments the difficulties faced by ex-PM Najib Abdul Razak in the latter’s pursuit of justice.

• Puad says Umno members and leaders are hurt by the Federal Court’s decision to grant the AG leave to appeal the decision to remit the case on the royal addendum.

• He adds that the ex-PM now has to wait until July for further court proceedings on the matter.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak is finding it difficult to pursue justice through the courts, said Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi.

He was commenting on the attorney-general’s (AG) move to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision regarding Najib’s royal addendum that would allow him to serve his remaining prison sentence under house arrest.

“It’s not just disappointment - Umno members and those who support justice have every reason to feel disheartened by the Federal Court’s decision yesterday,” Puad said on Facebook today.

The Federal Court yesterday allowed the AG’s application to review the Court of Appeal’s decision on the matter.

Puad pointed out that both the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had acknowledged the existence of the addendum.

“It further strengthens the claim made by former chief judge of Malaya Abdul Rahman Sebli that Najib did not receive a fair trial.

“This means Najib will have to wait even longer. We are puzzled as to why the new AG is continuing the actions of the previous AG.

“Najib is forced to fight in court to prove the existence of the royal addendum. The former king and the prime minister have both acknowledged its existence,” he said.

‘Disappointed with delay’

Yesterday, Najib’s lead counsel, Shafee Abdullah, also conveyed the former prime minister’s disappointment over the delay in the hearing at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“He is disappointed in the sense that this will further delay the court process. It has already been a year and four months.

“We already know clearly that the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong had explained there was indeed an addendum allowing Najib to serve his sentence at home,” said Shafee.

The three-member Federal Court bench, led by Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, ruled unanimously that the AG’s questions met the threshold for leave to appeal under Section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.

Puad further lamented that Najib, despite allegedly proving the existence of the royal addendum, must now wait several months.

“But even after succeeding, Najib still has to wait until July. Najib’s battle through the courts remains difficult,” he said.

Royal addendum: Najib disappointed over another delay, says lawyer

Najib's judicial review on house arrest addendum postponed

AG's questions on Najib's addendum of public importance - apex court

AG gets leave to appeal over Najib's royal addendum