KUALA LUMPUR: It has taken six years but Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah is a relieved man after the High Court granted him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on criminal breach of trust charges.
The 67-year-old former Treasury secretary-general faced the charges alongside Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was first charged in 2018.
"I was confident there was no case against me because everything, including payments, were done according to government procedures and with the Cabinet's approval.
"I am vindicated. Hopefully, I can go and do my umrah now," he told reporters after proceedings ended here on Wednesday (Nov 27).
Earlier, High Court judge Justice Muhammad Jamil Hussin allowed a notice of motion filed by Mohd Irwan and Najib who sought a DNAA from the court.
Justice Muhammad Jamil said the prosecution did not adhere to the Criminal Procedure Code and noted the "inordinate delay" in the case.
Meanwhile, Mohd Irwan's lead counsel Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran said he welcomed the court's decision.
"My client has been suffering for six years and it is finally over. I hope the prosecution will take the cue from his lordship's judgement and not proceed further," he said.
Co-counsel Lavinia Kumaraendran said there were over 164 documents that were not produced despite repeated requests from the defence.
"That was the main grounds for the motion. How can we put up a defence if the documents are not produced?
"Our client would not have had a fair trial.
"It was an inordinate delay and we say it is an abuse," she said.
