Najib’s attempt to get the IPIC case put on hold permanently lost

The High Court did not agree with Najib Razak’s request to put an end to the criminal breach of trust case that involves claimed payments of RM6.6 billion to the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).

The judge, Jamil Hussin, said that the lawyer for the former prime minister, Shafee Abdullah, did not make a formal application.

“We must give the prosecution the opportunity to file an affidavit in response,” he said.

That’s not all. He also asked the court to grant Irwan Serigar Abdullah, the former finance secretary-general, a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA), rather than the prosecution.

Najib and Irwan, who faced criminal charges, requested a DNAA due to the prosecution’s failure to provide crucial defense documents.

Irwan’s lawyer, K. Kumaraendran, asked for the DNAA today, while Shafee asked for a permanent stay because, despite a court order four months ago, the prosecution had not given the defense the papers.

Deputy public prosecutor Saifuddin Hashim Musaimi said that the prosecution had no say in this because the Official Secrets Act said that it was up to the ministries to decide which papers could be made public.

In 2018, Najib and Irwan faced six counts of stealing public funds intended for IPIC, an Abu Dhabi-owned company.

Jamil has stood down the proceedings for parties to submit on the DNAA application.