Najib withdraws appeal over bank documents in RM2.28bil 1MDB trial

PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has withdrawn his appeals for discovery of banking documents relating to investment bank Goldman Sachs and former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz's family in relation to his RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial.

The Federal Court was informed here on Friday (June 23) by Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah that they were withdrawing both appeals without prejudice for the matter to be re-argued at all levels of the court and this was agreed to by the prosecution.

"The High Court did say we can re-argue this when the witnesses... come to testify in the trial,” he said.

ALSO READ: Court of Appeal dismisses Najib's appeal for discovery of documents on Zeti’s family, Jho Low

He also told the court that the prosecution would not object to Najib’s right to re-apply for the documents when the relevant witnesses testify at the trial in the High Court.

He then asked the court to strike out the appeals.

Deputy public prosecutor Kamal Baharin Omar confirmed the matter.

A three-judge bench of the Court of Appeal, chaired by Court of Appeal president Justice Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, then struck out the appeals without hearing their merits.

Two other judges on the bench were Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah and Federal Court judge Justice Zabariah Mohd Yusof.

Najib is appealing against the decision by High Court judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on July 12, 2021, in his application for the documents.

He had filed his discovery application on March 24, 2021, as he wanted to compel the prosecution in the trial to disclose banking documents linked to Zeti’s family on claims that her family allegedly received monies from fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low.

ALSO READ: May 10 for Najib's appeal hearing to get bank documents

In his application, Najib wanted to compel the prosecution to provide several banking statements from companies, including Aktis Capital Singapore Pte Ltd, Country Group Securities Public Company Ltd, ACME Time Ltd (BVI), Butamba Investments Ltd, and Central Holdings Ltd, believed to be related to Jho Low and Zeti’s family in his 1MDB case.

Najib also filed a second application on April 7, 2021 seeking to obtain the confidential settlement agreement between the government and the Goldman Sachs Group entered in 2020 and transcripts or a forensic report on the phones of former Goldman Sachs partner in Asia, Tim Leissner.

He appealed to the Court of Appeal but on Dec 8 last year, a three-judge bench of the appellate court dismissed his appeal.

Najib, 69, is on trial for 25 charges in total: four for abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.28bil; and 21 for money laundering involving the same amount of money.

The trial is scheduled to resume before Justice Sequerah on July 7.

Other bullet points: 1MDB: 'It sounds like Najib', says witness on MACC recordings (https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/21/1mdb-039it-sounds-like-najib039-says-witness-on-macc-recordings)

Najib paid nearly RM23mil for international media team services, says witness https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/06/21/najib-paid-nearly-rm23mil-for-international-media-team-services-says-witness