[UPDATED] GE15: Najib rubbishes talk of pardon if BN wins polls

KUALA LUMPUR – Disgraced former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has rubbished speculation through his lawyer that he will receive a royal pardon if Barisan Nasional wins the general election.

Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said in a statement today that his client expresses “deep disappointment” over what he calls propaganda, and that he “categorically denies these allegations”.

“Our client has consistently maintained since the commencement of his trials in 2018 that he wishes to get acquitted through the judicial process of the courts, because not only does he want to secure his liberty, but also his legacy and integrity,” read the statement published by Free Malaysia Today.

“Our client urges his political rivals to no longer engage in unfounded political propaganda and allow the legal process to take its course.” 

Najib also maintained his innocence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case, highlighting the application for a review of the Federal Court’s decision to uphold his conviction and sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million in funds.

“If the application for review (on the SRC International conviction) is in his favour, our client shall seek a retrial under a fair and just process to prove his innocence, where he will be at liberty to present his case inclusive of the application to introduce facts and information that were previously not made available to the defence at the trial,” Shafee said in the statement.

Najib on September 6 filed a review after the Federal Court’s decision to uphold his conviction and sentence, naming the public prosecutor as the respondent.

Besides seeking a review of the apex court’s decision on August 23, he is asking the court to set aside its dismissal of his application to recuse Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, and its decision on August 16 to dismiss his application to adduce additional information and the disqualification of judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali in the high court trial.

Najib is currently serving his 12-year sentence in Kajang Prison. He was also fined RM210 million. – The Vibes, November 15, 2022