PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the High Court that a recent remark by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had "validated" his claims that the prosecution against him in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case was "rushed and flawed".
The former prime minister was asked of his opinion on Anwar's remarks on flaws of the prosecutorial process during his RM2.28bil 1MDB graft trial that convened at the Palace of Justice here on Tuesday (Jan 7).
"For six years, I have maintained that these proceedings exemplify rushed and flawed prosecutions.
"The charges against me related to the actions I undertook in my tenure as prime minister and finance minister, which were official functions carried out based on professional advice and established governance protocols.
"These official actions have been mischaracterised to suggest criminal intent, a claim I categorically deny," he said.
Najib said in his testimony to the court, that he had provided "glaring procedural deficiencies" that aligned with Anwar's remarks about prosecutions against high-profile figures.
The statement in question was made by Anwar on Dec 21, in which he described several high-profile prosecutions in 2018 as “tainted by venom and enmity”.
In Tuesday’s proceedings, Najib drew parallels from Anwar's statement to his own case.
"Anwar also highlighted systemic flaws in the prosecutorial process which resonate deeply with my concerns of selective accountability in my case," he said.
Najib said key figures such as former CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and former general counsel Jasmine Loo, among others, were not charged but were made witnesses instead.
On Dec 21, last year, Anwar said in a special interview with chief editors that some cases brought for prosecution following the 14th General Election were conducted hastily and with political vengeance.
"At that time, the pace of prosecutions was rushed, marked by venom, enmity, and political vengeance by those in power," he said.
The Prime Minister did not specify which leaders were responsible at the time.
Anwar was responding to a question about the independence of the judiciary following the acquittal of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor on money laundering and tax evasion charges in December, last year.
On Oct 30, Najib was ordered by the High Court to enter his defence on four counts of using his position to obtain RM2.28bil gratification from 1MDB's funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Wednesday (Jan 8).
