Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad expressed surprised at ex-PM Najib Razak’s ‘shocked expression’ that he had to enter his defence on seven charges in the 1MDB-linked SRC International trial.
“I am shocked that he is shocked.”
Dr Mahathir said this after the media asked his views on Najib’s ‘shocker’. He replied with his usual sarcasm.
Dr Mahathir also said Malaysia follows the rule of law and Najib has a case to answer and the case took months.
“That is how we run the government,” he said, adding that Najib is talking nonsense when he said he was shocked he did not get a reprieve from the case.
Yesterday, Najib Razak said he was in shock that he was not acquitted of all charges in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case with the KL High Court ordering him to enter his defence.
His lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said Najib thought they would acquit him of all seven charges.
“He was shocked that defence was called for every charge. He, too, was expecting an acquittal on all seven charges.
“We were confident all the seven charges would be an acquittal at this stage because we have rebutted the presumption even within the prosecution’s case. We have rebutted.
“So of course, he was surprised. In fact, shocked is the word,” he told reporters outside the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.
Najib will enter his defence on Dec 3 for the seven charges in relation to the transfer of RM42 million to his account from SRC International.
Najib, 66, is accused of abuse of power, three charges of money laundering and three charges of criminal breach of trust.
The case of abuse of power involves a government guarantee on SRC International’s RM4 billion loan from Retirement Fund Inc.
The criminal breach of trust accusation refers to the transfer of RM42 million to his account from the SRC, a former 1MDB unit. -/TISG