PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has 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”.
This came about when the former prime minister was asked for his view on Anwar’s remarks on the flaws of the prosecutorial process during his RM2.28bil 1MDB graft trial that convened at the Palace of Justice here yesterday.
“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.
In an interview with senior editors last month, Anwar remarked that some cases brought for prosecution following the 2018 General Election were conducted hastily.“At that time, the pace of prosecutions was rushed, marked by venom, enmity and political vengeance by those in power,” Anwar said in response to a question about judicial independence following last month’s acquittal of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor on money laundering and tax evasion charges.
Yesterday, 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.
He drew parallels from Anwar’s statement to his own case.
“Anwar also highlighted systemic flaws in the prosecutorial process that 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 Oct 30 last year, 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 today.
