PUTRAJAYA (Dec 26): A small crowd rallied outside the Palace of Justice on Friday to support former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as he awaited the court's verdict in his 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore criminal case.
At 9.30am, fewer than a hundred people showed up and were standing around the perimeter of the barricaded court complex.
In addition to the barricades, police presence around the court compound was also heavy.
However, the overall environment was quiet and the mood subdued.
Supporters donning “#FreeNajib” and “Bebas Bossku” T-shirts sporadically chanted “bebas, bebas, bebas bossku”.
One supporter, Hajar Rudiah from Sungai Buloh, said she is hopeful that the former prime minister would be acquitted and eventually freed.
She questioned why Najib was singled out for crimes related to the 1MDB scandal and urged the authorities to go after other alleged actors in the heist.
“Datuk Seri [Najib Razak] must get his freedom, must be freed! [repeated three times] … we are deeply saddened and disappointed that key witnesses in this trial were absent," she said.
Najib himself arrived at the complex around 8.25am.
A number of his family and other VIPs were also spotted.
Among his family members who attended court were his children Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib, Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, and Datin Nooryana Najwa Najib.
As for VIPs, former Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, Pahang State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, former Pahang menteri besar Tan Sri Adnan Yaakob and former 1MDB chairman and ex-Treasury secretary general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah were present.
Najib faces four abuse of power charges and 21 counts of money laundering amounting to about RM2.2 billion misappropriated from the state strategic development firm.
He is currently serving a reduced six-year jail term and a RM50 million fine after being found guilty of seven charges, including abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
The Edge is covering the trial live here.
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