'I am an old and weak man seeking justice' - Najib
Najib stated that he believed those involved would ultimately be held accountable for their lies, betrayals, and violations of the law in the hereafter.
KUALA LUMPUR - Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the High Court that he held no grudges against those who orchestrated and carried out injustices against him, leading to his charges related to embezzling funds from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Najib, 71, stated that he believed those involved would ultimately be held accountable for their lies, betrayals, and violations of the law in the hereafter.
During his defence proceedings on four charges of abusing his position to receive nearly RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount, Najib claimed that his political opponents had acted out of vengeance, exploiting the system to target individuals unable to defend themselves.
"To those who criticised me when I was prime minister for supposedly advocating for human rights and institutional reform, is this the Malaysia you envisioned?
"I am also a citizen of this country. Don’t I have the right to receive justice like everyone else? Why am I being denied justice?" he asked.
Najib added that he was an old and weak man, forced to appear in court even while in a wheelchair.
"I have to be pushed by others," he said while reading his defence statement before Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who now serves as a judge at the Court of Appeal.
Najib faces four charges of abusing his position to receive bribes totaling nearly RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds, as well as 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The proceedings are set to resume on January 6 next year.
