GE15: Najib deny rumours he’ll be released immediately if BN wins

SHAH ALAM - Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak deny claims that he will soon be released if Barisan Nasional (BN) won the 15th General Election (GE15).

His lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said Najib was disappointed by the allegations and described them as unfounded political propaganda despite being imprisoned.

"Since the start of his trial in 2018, Najib has consistently wanted to be released through the judicial process in court because he not only wants to gain freedom but prove his integrity and legacy.

"Datuk Seri Najib is confident that his chances of being released from prison are through a judicial review application submitted in line with Rule 137 and Federal Court Rules 1995," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Shafee added that the review application was specifically based on the basis that the process and decision made by the Federal Court during its appeal, was to deny its constitutional right to a fair judicial hearing.

It was because Najib's lawyers were not given the opportunity to adequately prepare for the appeals process that they were unable to present arguments for the defence, thus putting Najib without any effective defence representative in court.

"If this judicial review is inclined towards Najib, he will apply for a retrial under a fairer and more balanced process to prove his innocence.

"It will provide an opportunity and space for his case including presenting facts and evidence that the defence had not previously obtained at trial," he said.

Shafee said following Najib’s application being rejected for a media restraining order before the start of the SRC trial, he also applied to the court to allow his trial to be streamed live online.

Obviously, it was to enable the public to scrutinise the trial process, which was a practice already implemented in various courts in the world, as opposed to relying solely on limited reports made by the mainstream media.

"Najib maintains his innocence and has never used a penny of RM42 million for himself and has never requested or offered as described in the SRC trial.

"In fact, as recorded in the trial, he has spent RM642 million received from bank accounts belonging to the Saudi Arabia Finance Ministry for the use of welfare initiatives or through political parties and non-governmental organisations and this is also not for his own use.

"Najib also stated once again, he has never and will not ask for all his charges to be dropped without going through a fair and balanced judicial process," he said.

Therefore, he said, Najib urged all political parties to stop using his name for political propaganda and allow a fair and balanced legal and judicial process can be implemented.