Prosecution, defence seek to postpone hearing of Najib’s RM27 million SRC case

The prosecution and defence in Najib Razak’s money laundering case involving RM27 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds are seeking to postpone the hearing of the case pending the outcome of the former prime minister’s appeal in the RM42 million SRC International case at the Court of Appeal.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul told reporters this after case management, held in chambers before High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan today.

“The RM27 million SRC case has been set for hearing from Aug 2 to 9, but since the Court of Appeal has yet to decide on the appeal in the RM42 million SRC case, we have to apply for a postponement of the trial until the disposal of the appeal case,” he said, adding that it was necessary to postpone the hearing of the RM27 million SRC International case as the evidence was interrelated with the RM42 million SRC International case and involved the same money trail.

He also said Zaini had instructed both parties to write a letter to the court to apply for the hearing of the case, which was fixed for next Monday (Aug 2), to be postponed.

The prosecution will also send a letter seeking for the trial dates, which had been fixed for August this year and March and April 2022, to be vacated, he added.

Najib’s lawyer Rahmat Hazlan, when contacted by reporters, confirmed that both parties in the RM27 million SRC International case were seeking to postpone the trial.

On Feb 3, 2019, Najib pleaded not guilty to three charges of money laundering in which he is believed to have received money totalling RM27 million, allegedly proceeds from unlawful activities, in three AmPrivate Banking accounts belonging to him.

Najib is alleged to have committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Bhd, Bangunan Ambank Group, No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan, on July 8, 2014, under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which provides for a maximum fine of RM5 million, jail not exceeding five years, or both, upon conviction.

He was earlier charged in the Sessions Court but the case was transferred to the High Court on March 13, 2019 following an application by the prosecution.

On July 28 last year, High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali sentenced Najib to 12 years’ jail and fined him RM210 million after finding the former prime minister guilty on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position, involving RM42 million of SRC International funds.

The case is at the appeal stage at the Court of Appeal.