3 High Court judges OK new dates for Najib’s Singapore visit
KUALA LUMPUR: Three High Court judges who are presiding over 1MDB-linked trials have allowed Najib Razak’s applications to release his passport so he can visit his daughter who is due to deliver in Singapore. They also allowed the former prime minister’s application to amend his trip to the island republic…
KUALA LUMPUR: Three High Court judges who are presiding over 1MDB-linked trials have allowed Najib Razak’s applications to release his passport so he can visit his daughter who is due to deliver in Singapore.
They also allowed the former prime minister’s application to amend his trip to the island republic to Nov 21 to Dec 6.
His earlier plan was to leave on Nov 3 and return on Nov 20.
In his amended motion filed last week, Najib said he had to delay his trip to visit his daughter, Nooryana Najwa, as he has been entrusted to oversee Umno’s preparations for the Melaka state election next month.
He said this is because Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be in Germany to seek medical treatment during that period.
Nominations for the election will take place on Nov 8 and polling is on Nov 20.
Najib first appeared before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, who is presiding in the audit tampering trial
His lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said the scheduled two-day hearing of the audit tampering trial on Nov 29 and 30 will be replaced “soon” in order not to disrupt the proceedings.
Deputy public prosecutor Ashraf Adrin Kamarul did not oppose the application.
Before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who is presiding over the ongoing 1MDB corruption and money laundering trials, Shafee said the trial from Nov 9 to 11 and Nov 15 to 18 will proceed before Najib departs to Singapore.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamed Mustafa Kunyalam did not object to the application.
Finally, Najib appeared before judge Muhmmad Jamil Hussin, who is scheduled to hear a criminal breach of trust involving RM6.6 billion in government funds next year.
Jamil allowed Najib’s application. Ashraf also did not object to the application.
On Oct 18, the Court of Appeal allowed the temporary release of Najib’s passport to enable him to visit his daughter, who is to deliver her second child.
He went to the Court of Appeal to have his travel document returned as his appeal against his conviction and sentence in the SRC International case was heard before this appellate court six months ago.
His application for the release of his passport followed the successful bid by his wife, Rosmah Mansor, who is facing corruption charges linked to a solar panel project for Sarawak schools
The High Court earlier this month temporarily released her passport after she said that she needed to be with Nooryana, who had suffered complications during her first delivery.
She said she wanted to be beside her daughter to provide mental and emotional support after delivery. — Free Malaysia Today