Najib to join Rosmah in couple’s first trip abroad since downfall

Former prime minister Najib Razak was today granted the temporary release of his passport for travel to Singapore, to be with his daughter who is expected to give birth to her second child within weeks, joining his wife Rosmah Mansor who was similarly granted permission last week.

According to Malaysiakini, a three-man Court of Appeal bench led by Kamaludin Md Said unanimously agreed to Najib’s application.

“The court finds the reason given for the application as reasonable. The court allows this application and the passport will be returned (to Najib),” Kamaludin said.

The other two judges on the bench were Ravinthran Paramaguru and Abu Bakar Jais.

The former prime minister will be allowed use of his passport from Oct 20 to Nov 22.

Najib was convicted in July last year of seven counts of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power involving RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

The case is currently under appeal at the Court of Appeal.

In his affidavit of support for his application, Najib had said that he was responsible for ensuring the well-being of his daughter, Nooryana Najwa, whom he said had experienced serious complications during the birth of her first child.

He also said that he was not a flight risk as his family, source of income and property are all in Malaysia.

“In addition, I am under bail of RM7 million and it is not a small amount. I have also attended all the trial dates set by the court prior to this,” he said.