Najib Being Treated Like Any Other Inmates In Prison, Says His Lawyer
Najib’s lawyer Shafee Abdullah stressed that the former premier is not being afforded any special treatment from the authorities during his jail stint.
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Former prime minister Najib Razak’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah today shut down claims that the Pekan MP is being afforded special treatment during his imprisonment.
According to Shafee, the allegations that Najib was afforded special privileges were baseless and unfounded, which he described as “total nonsense.”
He also appeared to be annoyed with the codename “merpati” (pigeon) that has been associated with his client, saying that it could mean that the person associated with it is a “sissy”.
In rejecting claims of preferential treatment for his client, Shafee said that Najib wasn’t even afforded a specific room for him to eat his lunch during his 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial.
“If he received any such treatment, he would get a special room to have lunch in this court.
“He received the same treatment in Kajang Prison,” Shafee was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.
Anonymous claims had since gone viral that Najib has been receiving special treatment in prison including a renovation for his cell in the Kajang Prison complex as well as plans to allow him to receive treatment at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH) in order to allow more access to visitors as well as to enjoy VVIP facilities at the hospital.
Najib, the first former prime minister to be sent to prison, is currently serving his prison sentence in Kajang Prison since 23 August when a five-judge panel at the Federal Court upheld his conviction, RM210 million fine and 12-year prison sentence for embezzling RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Najib has been serving his sentence beginning 23 August.
He also retains his Pekan MP status after applying for a royal pardon and a judicial review of the Federal Court’s decision to reaffirm his prison sentence and fine.
Meanwhile, during today’s trial, the High Court was told that RM90.89 million was deposited into the Pekan member of parliament’s personal bank account between October and November 2012.
Ambank’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch manager R. Uma Devi, who testified for the prosecution team, said that said RM15,149,963.64 was deposited into Najib’s account on 31 October, followed by RM 75,749,963.64 on 20 November 2012.
She however did not state the sources of the funds but added that the former premier had made several payments to several entities and individuals between 2011 and 2012.
Najib is on trial on four charges of abusing his power to obtain bribes totalling RM2.28bil from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money-laundering involving the same amount.
The trial before High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah is scheduled to resume tomorrow.
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