KUALA LUMPUR – Registered media personnel who turned up to watch Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s RM27 million SRC International corruption trial have been barred from the high court gallery here.
Previously, journalists covering the case, which involved RM27 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds, have been following the proceedings via live feed provided in a separate room.
A court complex security officer today cited “security reasons”, despite journalists having already collected their permission passes from the security department to enter the gallery.
However, it is observed that Najib’s supporters, close to 20 people, including former treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar were allowed to follow the proceedings from the gallery.
The court was to hear the prosecution’s decision on Najib’s representation letters to drop his three money laundering charges.
However, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) needed more time to deliberate on the matter.
On December 1, judge K. Muniandy dismissed Najib’s bid to obtain a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.
Najib was charged on February 3, 2019, with three counts of money laundering involving RM27 million of SRC’s funds.
On July 31, he filed a representation letter to the AGC to have his charges reviewed or dropped. The AGC reportedly said it received the 51-page letter on August 2.
Najib, 70, is now serving his 12-year jail sentence after he was convicted of misappropriating RM42 million of SRC funds. – January 19, 2024