Najib has tendency to interfere in cases, Sessions Court told

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sessions Court here was told that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has a “propensity” to interfere in cases and should not be allowed bail.

Former federal court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who is appointed by the Attorney General Chambers to lead the prosecution, said this while making his case in objecting to bail for Najib.

“This is a case where the accused had betrayed the trust and confidence of the public. The Attorney General of the United States described this case as ‘the worst kleptocracy’.

“This is a case of theft, unparalleled,” he said here yesterday.

Sri Ram said he was informed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner that the accused had interfered in the investigation of 1MDB last year.

Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah stood up to object.

“He (Sri Ram) should not be making that statement from the bar. He should put it in an affidavit.

“As members of the MACC are here, would they like to sit in the witness box to back that statement?” Muhammad Shafee said.

Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi then reminded the prosecution that the issue at hand was of bail.

The prosecution proposed a RM5mil bail in two sureties if the court uses its discretion to grant bail.

Muhammad Shafee, however, said the purpose of bail was never as a pre-trial punishment.

“Bail is not intended to be punitive but only to secure attendance. Both his passports have been surrendered to the court. He is not a flight risk,” he said.

Muhammad Shafee suggested a bail of RM500,000 in two sureties.

Azura then fixed bail at RM3.5mil in two sureties.

Najib’s son, Mohammed Nizar, and a man named Mohd Shahrir Arifin, were named as bailors.

It is not known what the relationship between Mohd Shahrir and Najib is.

The court allowed Najib, who remains on bail, to pay RM1mil today and RM500,000 each day next week until the amount is fulfilled.