KUALA LUMPUR: An application for a fresh royal pardon for Datuk Seri Najib Razak will only be considered after the conclusion of legal proceedings with regard to a purported "royal addendum", says Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah (pic).
"At this moment we have no instructions. What I can tell you is it is because we are pursuing the addendum, which is a subject matter and consequence with regard to the current (pardon) application.
ALSO READ: Pardons are the King's prerogative, says Istana Negara
"We cannot do another pardon application because we will be accused of carrying out a multiplicity of proceedings which will endanger our current application," he told reporters after attending a "Townhall Rakyat Cari Kebenaran" session on Saturday (Jan 4).
Shafee, who is Najib's lawyer, said the submission of a fresh royal pardon application would only be considered after all legal processes related to the purported addendum as part of his pardon are exhausted.
"If the appeal is denied this Jan 6, we will make an appeal to the Federal Court," he said.
On Dec 5, Najib filed an application for leave to adduce additional evidence in his appeal to support his claim of a royal addendum allowing the remainder of his six-year prison sentence to be served under house arrest.
ALSO READ: House arrest applications for prisoners must go through Pardons Board, says AGC
The appeal pertains to his court challenge regarding an addendum purportedly issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which, according to him, would allow him to serve the rest of his prison sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case under house arrest.
Najib also requested that if the additional decree existed, the respondents must enforce it and transfer him immediately from Kajang Prison to his residence in Kuala Lumpur to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.
On July 3, the High Court rejected Najib's application for leave to initiate the judicial review with the former premier appealing to the Court of Appeal.
In July 2020, the High Court sentenced Najib to 12 years in prison with a fine of RM210mil in the SRC International case.
However, the sentence was reduced to six years and the fine reduced to RM50mil after he filed a petition for a royal pardon on Sept 2, 2022.
The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya will decide this Monday (Jan 6) on Najib's application to appeal the Kuala Lumpur High Court's rejection of his application for a judicial review of a purported royal addendum and royal pardon issue.
On Friday (Jan 3), Istana Negara issued a statement that applications for a pardon or reduced sentences must be submitted by the prisoner concerned for the consideration of the Pardons Board, which is chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The King has prerogative power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites for offences committed in the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
Asked about the planned solidarity rally at the Palace of Justice to show support for Najib this coming Jan 6, Shafee said that it was not wrong for "individuals" to show up.
"If they go as individuals, there is nothing wrong," he said.
On Saturday (Jan 4), police issued a statement saying that organisers of the planned rally do not have permission to proceed.
