KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 2): Datuk Seri Najib Razak's family is disappointed that he was not granted a full pardon for his conviction in the SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case and immediately released from prison, said the former prime minister's daughter.
Nooryana Najwa Najib said that although the family appreciates the reduction in jail sentence from 12 years to six years by the Pardon's Board, "we are disappointed as Datuk Seri Najib Razak did not receive a full pardon and released immediately."
She said Najib and the family maintain their stand that he is not guilty.
Nooryana said this in an Instagram post following the Pardons Board secretariat’s announcement on Friday of the reduction of Najib’s jail term, along with a cut in his fine to RM50 million from RM210 million.
Nooryana also claimed that those who had followed the SRC trial closely would agree with the dissenting judgment of the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli that a huge injustice had been done to Najib, and that the right decision would have been to release and acquit him.
Abdul Rahman was part of a five-member Federal Court bench last year that denied Najib’s review application in the SRC. He was the only judge with a dissenting view.
Najib was found guilty by the High Court on one count of abuse of power relating to the Retirement Fund Inc's (KWAP) RM4 billion loan to SRC, and three counts each of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power involving RM42 million of SRC funds.
The decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal, and again by a Federal Court bench led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat in August 2022.
Federal Court judge Datuk Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, who wrote the majority judgement, dismissed all grounds laid out by the defence, namely the right to adduce further evidence on trial judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, that the non-adjournment sought by then counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik had resulted in a breach of natural justice, and that not allowing Hisyam to discharge himself resulted in an incompetent appeal.
Other judges in the majority were Federal Court judges Datuk Rhozhariah Bujang and Datuk Nordin Hassan, and Court of Appeal judge Datuk Abu Bakar Jais.