Consistency in sentencing proof of judicial independence

SHAH ALAM - The Federal Court's unanimous decision maintaining the conviction and sentence of Datuk Seri Najib Razak is seen as the country's accomplishment in upholding the principle that "nobody is above the law", even the top leader of the country.

Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) founder and executive director Cynthia Gabriel said consistency in the decision making by the country's judiciary, proved that the institution was independent and steadfast in handing down the sentence based on the evidences adduced.

She said the former prime minister was convicted and sentenced by the High Court and the decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal and Federal Court panels who presided over the appeals.

Therefore, she said the conviction in all the criminal charges was undoubtful.

However, she said C4 regretted that there were multiple attempts by Najib to delay the proceedings including applying for a postponement and switching lawyers.

"Throughout the case, the public saw situations such as attack on the integrity of the country's judiciary including the various allegations thrown to the judges that the decisions were biased.

"In fact, Najib's legal team made an application to recuse Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat from hearing the final appeal, but their attempt proved that they were trying to delay the sentencing.

"It needs to be remembered that even though the legal proceedings in the case went on for years, there is a huge possibility that this is only the beginning to resolve the many scandals Najib was alleged to have been involved in during his tenure," she said in a statement on Wednesday.

Commenting further, Gabriel said the Federal Court's decision on Najib's case proved that the burden carried by those who provided information, investigated, conducted the court proceeding and opposed the unfairness in the country had finally paid off.

For years, she said C4 along with other joint organisations and many others have faced multiple challenges to uphold the truth in the case.

She said the sentence handed down to Najib had restored the public's trust towards the judicial institution.

"While we proceed with the effort to combat corruption and abuse of power, it is wise for us as the public to take lessons that success could only be achieved by working together.

"The guilty verdict against Najib is the result of the whistleblowers, the media, civil society groups, government officials and the public that came forward to expose the crime," she said.