After a long, drawn out period of investigation and litigation regarding embattled former-Prime Minister Najib Razak’s involvement in the 1MDB scandal, he now faces what will arguably amount to being Malaysia’s most closely-watched trial in the nation’s history. With his final appeal set to be heard tomorrow (August 23rd 2022), Najib would have exhausted all legal avenues for recourse in the face of his corruption charges.
Najib says he is ‘all alone’
Uploading an impassioned post on Facebook tinged with deep melancholy over his circumstances, Najib describes himself as being left ‘all alone’ ahead of his hearing led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who denied his legal team’s request for more time to prepare for his appeal.
This also comes shortly after his legal representative, Mr Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, had attempted to submit a request to discharge himself from representing him in court. The request was summarily denied, reports CNA.
“Everyone has a different path in life.
We always pray and hope for the best in our lives.
Sometimes, we may feel that all we have put effort into has gone to waste.
And sometimes we may feel saddened by the challenges and hardships we face.
With slander and persecution. With hope that ends in failure. With sincerity that ends in betrayal.
Sometimes, we simply feel… alone.” he wrote.
Would later go on to swear an oath
Najib was later seen at Masjid Kampung Baru yesterday (August 21st 2022), where he would go on to perform a sumpah laknat (swearing in the face of divine retribution) and reiterate his stance that he had no prior knowledge of the RM42 million found in his accounts had originated directly or indirectly from SRC International. He said that he had done so in order to clear his name, that of his family’s, as well as his parents.
The undertaking of the oath was uploaded in a video to Najib’s official social media accounts, where he made clear his position on a key matters.
- I have never, at any point in time, knew specifically or otherwise, that the RM42 million funds had originated directly or indirectly from SRC International.
- I have never issued any directives or agreed to establish SRC International for the purposes of collecting funds from SRC International for the purposes of my personal or family’s use.
- I have never instructed any directors or officers from SRC International to misappropriate funds from SRC International into my personal bank accounts for any purpose.
- I have never been involved in any Cabinet meetings regarding the approval of a government guarantee for a RM4 billion loan from Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) to SRC International, for the purposes of me to obtain illegal gains amounting to RM42 million.
He ended his oath by saying that he is prepared to face God’s wrath if he is found to be deceitful. However, he has also called for his political rivals to face divine punishment, if they were found to be complicit in colluding to form a plot against him.
A number of UMNO leaders including secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Maslan and Kelantan liaison committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub were present for Najib’s oath, as well as his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who arrived 20 minutes later.
Former religious affairs minister Datuk Seri Mujahid Yusof has since released a statement and described Najib’s recital of the oath as ‘regrettable’, and that the public need to have faith in the proceedings of the Federal Court, reports Malay Mail.
“Najib’s action of undertaking a sumpah laknat at the Kampung Baru Mosque yesterday is regrettable.
“It is an attempt to play on religious sentiment among his supporters while the Federal Court is in session with his trial.” he said.
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