Over RM200,000 collected for 'Free Najib' fund

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. -AP filepic

PETALING JAYA: Well into the second day of its launch, the "Free Najib" fund has already collected more than RM200,000.  

According to the Facebook post of the organiser Datuk Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii, the fund raised RM204,393 as of 3.30pm on Friday (July 6).  

“Thank you and please continue spreading this (initiative).  

“Together let’s help those who have shown good deeds to us all,” he posted.  

The "Solidariti Bersama Datuk Najib" fund was set up by Umno and supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.  

It was set up to help settle the second RM500,000 bail instalment in Najib’s corruption case before the court deadline at 3pm next Monday (July 9).  

On the first day of its launch on Thursday (July 5), the fund had hit the RM11,000 mark.  

Najib on Wednesday (July 4) claimed trial to three counts of criminal breach of trust and another charge of abuse of power involving RM42mil linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The argument for bail took about an hour before it was fixed at RM1mil by High Court judge Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak.

Attorney General Tommy Thomas proposed the bail be set at RM4mil in cash, to which Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah objected, saying that it was too high an amount.

Muhammad Shafee said that his client is not a flight risk and asked for bail between RM500,000 and RM800,000 instead.

The bail was eventually set at RM1mil with two sureties. The court also agreed for the bail payment to be in two instalments.

Najib left the court complex after paying RM500,000 on Wednesday (July 4). The remainder will be paid next Monday (July 9).