[UPDATED] Najib succeeds in bid to extend passport release to Dec 6

KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak succeeded in his bid to revise his application for the temporary release of his passport at the Court of Appeal today.

The three-person bench allowed Najib to extend the release of his passport to December 6. This comes a week after the high court here approved the date amendments. 

During the proceedings at the appellate court today, the bench chaired by judge Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said allowed the application seeing that no objections were raised by deputy public prosecutor Shafiq Hasim, reported Malaysiakini.

Judges Datuk Nordin Hassan and Datuk Hashim Hamzah were also on the bench.

“This is the second time you have come before the Court of Appeal. The first time was to visit Singapore. Then now, the elections.

“We need to remind you that the court will not easily allow such applications.”

He added that in Najib’s first application, he cited urgency to head to Singapore but noted that the reason has changed.

“Today, we found that the explanation is reasonable, and the DPP has affirmed it is reasonable and raised no objection. So, the court allows this application. Your passport must be returned by December 6,” Kamaludin was quoted as saying.

Previously, the Court of Appeal allowed Najib to access his passport temporarily, from October 20 to November 22. He stated that he needed to go to Singapore to provide support for his daughter Nooryana Najwa, who is expecting.

On October 26, Najib sought to amend the dates to allow him to assist Umno’s election machinery in the Melaka polls scheduled for November 20 before crossing the causeway to the island republic.

The former Umno president said he has been entrusted to ensure that all operations within the party run smoothly and accordingly, following the departure of current party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to Germany for medical treatment.

It was reported that Najib filed for the temporary return of his passport at the Court of Appeal on October 15.

On October 18, the court allowed him to access his passport temporarily to facilitate his trip to Singapore for the birth of his grandchild.

Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor also received similar approval by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on October 15 to welcome the birth of their grandchild in Singapore.

Rosmah had applied on the basis that she wanted to provide moral and mental support to her daughter Nooryana Najwa.

The court previously held his passport while hearing his bid to quash his conviction and sentencing in the RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case. – The Vibes, November 3, 2021