KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18): Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has filed a representation to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to drop three charges against him for money laundering of RM27 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds, which he had asked to be withdrawn.
The 51-page letter was sent last month, and received by the AGC on Aug 2.
This is Najib’s first representation with regard to his second SRC case. He has also filed a representation regarding six counts of criminal breach of trust with regard to RM6.6 billion in government funds to the International Petroleum Investment Company.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said the AGC requires internal actions to study the representation, and the prosecution requires another case management date three months later if possible.
Najib’s counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah concurred on the representation letter.
He said the representation letter was sent as the AGC felt they need not prove the predicate offences (the abuse of power charges), while the defence felt they need to.
“The documentation in this case is similar to the previous case. This is about the three remaining money-laundering charges. The defence says the prosecution need to prove the predicate offences. The witnesses and documents are almost the same,” he said.
Shafee said the application may require full consideration of AG Tan Sri Idrus Harun, knowing the uncertainty of the extension of time.
“The defence cannot say that three months is sufficient. But we have no objection to them (the prosecution) seeking another case management date,” he added.
Judge K Muniandy fixed Dec 1 for case management.
Najib is already convicted of all seven charges in relation to the first SRC case, and is serving his 12 years' jail sentence and RM210 million fine since Aug 23 last year.
In this trial, he is charged with three counts of money laundering by accepting proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM27 million from SRC through three AmPrivate Banking accounts in July 2014.