[UPDATED] Court should limit Najib’s movements despite stay of execution: C4

PUTRAJAYA – Even though the Court of Appeal has granted a stay of execution over former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s conviction, it should still limit and curtail his movements especially when it comes to political activities, an anti-graft watchdog said today.

Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) founding director Cynthia Gabriel told The Vibes it would be unacceptable for someone who has been convicted to go gallivanting around, canvassing for votes like what happened during the Melaka election last month.

“The stay of execution is part of due processes under the rule of law, but some restrictions on political activities should probably be made, because right now he is moving around generating political support,” said Gabriel.

“Such restrictions should be decided by the court. The stay is part of due process until the maximum allowable trial is completed. Until then, he should or should not be given a stay of execution, depending on how the judges discern the situation.

“I would recommend that his political movements and activities be curtailed because there is absolutely no justification for him to be moving around as a campaign manager in the Melaka election – that is totally unacceptable because he is now a convicted criminal.

“Short of going to jail, he should face some form of restriction,” she said to The Vibes.

However, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Muhammad Mohan disagreed with Gabriel over her recommendation.

He said from a legal standpoint, courts cannot simply prohibit Najib’s movements despite his conviction, seeing that he is appealing to the Federal Court.

“No, the court may impound his passport, but cannot simply limit movement when he is doing nothing illegal,” said Mohan.

Even though TI-M has a different opinion over the prohibition of movement compared to C4, Mohan still welcomes the Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the judgment made by the high court.

Gabriel also welcomed the ruling to uphold the high court’s verdict over Najib’s RM42 million SRC International trial this morning, seeing that tomorrow is International Anti-Corruption Day.

Meanwhile, anti-corruption advocate Datuk Seri Akhbar Satar reminded the public that Najib still has one avenue to cross before a final verdict is made.

“It is too early to decide, and it is now his last opportunity to prove he is not guilty of the charges in the Federal Court. The accused should be allowed to defend his right based on the rule of law.

“He has another final appeal to the Federal Court. Until then, we should wait and see,” said Akhbar.

The court later allowed a stay application on his imprisonment and fine pending an appeal to the Federal Court.

On another note, Gabriel said any appeal by the defence counsel should be fast-tracked as high-profile corruption cases must be met with “speediness” to ensure that justice is delivered, and that Najib faces his jail time and whatever fines he will need to pay.

The veteran activist added that she finds “extreme relief” over the unanimous judgment by the three-man bench led by justice Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, adding that this has vindicated all the hard work made by graft busters and investigative journalists prior to and throughout the trial.

Similarly, Gabriel said this also indicates that Malaysian society will no longer accept corrupted political leaders and no matter how much that leader is loved, he or she should still face justice if found guilty.

“Today’s decision has shown that political corruption at the highest levels shall no longer be tolerated in Malaysian society,” she said. 

“It is not part of a culture that is okay with this. I hope that his supporters understand how grave corruption is as a crime.

“It is a criminal activity that cannot be ignored no matter how much we love the leader,” said Gabriel. – The Vibes, December 8, 2021

Additional reporting by Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain