The Malaysian Insight

TALK is rife within legal circles that the Attorney-General’s Chambers is on the cusp of adding another senior litigator from the private sector to its team for Najib Razak’s first corruption trial.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight that in addition to Sulaiman Abdullah, another senior lawyer is likely to be tapped to join the team to prosecute the former prime minister for allegedly pilfering RM89 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of scandal-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

This move by the A-GC to beef up its ranks did not surprise legal experts, given the high expectations of a conviction surrounding the trial.

Not a day has gone by since the 14th general election that the full extent of the 1MDB scandal has been laid bare for the Malaysian public. These revelations have increased the clamour for Najib and his alleged conspirators to be sent behind bars. 

The SRC trial, which begins on February 12, is one of many trials that Najib will face for his alleged role in the scandal.

Former president of the Malaysian Bar Sulaiman was picked by the A-GC to lead the prosecution in the SRC International case.

But lawyers believe that the seasoned courtroom lawyer would need a solid right-hand given the length of the trial and his recent frail health.

The SRC trial is slated to last 43 days. 

Najib faces 10 charges in relation to the RM89 million from SRC International.

He was initially charged on July 4 with three counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) and one charge under the MACC Act over RM42 million linked to the SRC International case. On August 8, he was slapped with another three charges in relation to the same case.

On Monday, Najib was slapped with another three charges under Section 4(1) of Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFA) 2001.

In the latest charges, he is accused of receiving, via three transactions, proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to RM47 million on July 8, 2014, through his bank account at AmIslamic Bank Bhd.

In total, Najib faces 42 charges, which also involve 1MDB and tampering with the auditor-general’s report on the troubled state fund, as well as for criminal breach of trust involving Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Company. – January 30, 2019.