Two top lawyers, prosecutor Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden and senior criminal lawyer M. Puravalen have discharged themselves from Najib Tun Razak’s legal team said The Star today.
Two more lawyers, Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal and M. Athimulan withdrew from Najib’s defence team on May 21 following the raids on the ex-PM’s houses.
At this rate, it will tough for Najib to secure top-notch lawyers, as advised by former deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim last month.
The lawyers told The Star the separation was mutual and was executed on Monday (June 4).
“No comments on the decision except to say that it was an amicable parting,” said the lawyer with over 35 years’ experience.
Anwar had commented on Najib’s future cases to calm a rowdy crowd in Penang that clearly wanted swift action taken against the fallen PM.
“My advice to him: Look for a good and intelligent lawyer,” said Anwar to the cheers of the crowd in Penang.
Anwar’s statement clearly indicates that Najib Razak would face charges but the government is not going to rush putting Najib on trial.
“The rule of law must be followed,” he told a crowd where some rowdy elements seemed to think otherwise.
Anwar also said the Pakatan Harapan government wanted a judicial body that was free from political meddling.
“Judges should not become political tools. We cannot tell the judges what to do. They must have all the freedom to decide on their rulings,” he said with the attendance cheering.
“This is what we should expect from a country that follows the laws in this age of ‘reformasi’ (reform)” he said.
Malaysia’s anti-corruption agency the MACC has reopened its investigation, initially focusing on how RM42 million went from SRC International to Najib’s account.
SRC was created in 2011 by Najib’s government to pursue overseas investments in energy resources and was a unit of 1MDB until it was moved to the Finance Ministry in 2012.