KUALA LUMPUR – The high court trial into Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd corruption case today heard how the former prime minister was close to suffering a stroke due to his recurring stomach ulcers.
Addressing judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah noted that the Pekan MP’s condition was critical a few months ago.
He explained that bleeding as a result of the ulcers had forced him to undergo a blood transfusion.
“I think three months ago, he didn’t realise he was in a very critical condition, as he lost a lot of blood without knowing the reason. When he checked, his haemoglobin level was so low.
“He was a walking time bomb. He would have developed a complete stroke. But they (doctors) managed to address the situation and had to pump in five litres of blood,” he said today.
Shafee added that since Najib’s imprisonment, doctors have found numerous new ulcers after the former prime minister complained of discomfort in his abdominal area.
“Some of them bled when touched. For that reason, he has been tested to ensure that his high blood pressure has got nothing to do with that, but perhaps a mere confusion of medicines.”
Shafee said the stomach ulcers could be one of two possible reasons for Najib’s current high blood pressure, the other being a change from original to generic medicines.
He was asked by Sequerah if his client’s blood pressure condition is a direct result of the medicinal changes.
Najib is currently warded at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL).
The Vibes had earlier reported that Najib had been issued a medical certificate from HKL for today and tomorrow due to high blood pressure, forcing the court to vacate its hearings on these two days.
When met by reporters after the court adjourned, Shafee attempted to explain the pain that ulcers could inflict on a person.
“Have you ever had ulcers? It’s the worst thing one can ever have,” he said, adding that Najib has not looked his best self in the past week.
“Did you see him on Monday? He looked like a lobster, completely red in colour. I was shocked.”
In the ongoing trial, Najib is facing four charges of abusing his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The Umno man is currently serving his 12-year prison sentence after the Federal Court upheld his conviction on August 23 in all seven charges in his SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case.
Previously on September 5, Najib’s daughter Nooryana Najwa Najib revealed that her father was suffering from recurring stomach issues and is highly prone to ulcers, which can cause him grief when under stress or suffering from gastritis.
“The last time his (Najib’s) ulcers bled last year, he was unaware of his condition until he felt very faint due to internal bleeding and was quietly admitted to (the) hospital for a week,” she claimed.
On Monday, after Najib was admitted to HKL, Nooryana Najwa posted on Instagram claiming doctors at HKL had discovered multiple new stomach ulcers during a scope procedure on Saturday, with a separate biopsy also causing bleeding. – The Vibes, September 14, 2022
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