1MDB trial: Najib ‘extremely disappointed’ with Supreme Court ruling

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak is “extremely disappointed” with the Supreme Court’s prima facie ruling requiring him to defend himself in the case of RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Najib’s lead lawyer, said both he and his client were very disappointed as the defense presented arguments that they believed warranted serious consideration.

He said this when met outside the main gate of the court complex in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday (October 30).

Muhammad Shafee also expressed surprise that this was the only instance where he could not win by one point at this stage.

“I couldn’t even win a piece of cotton, let alone the entire garment,” he added.

Muhammad Shafee then said that he and his team would prepare for the defense.

“We are not giving up; we are going to fight this. We are more determined because of today’s decision,” he said.

Earlier, Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah ordered the former prime minister to conduct his defense on four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering in connection with the RM2.28bil allegedly embezzled from 1MDB.

Najib has chosen to give his testimony under oath from the witness box.

According to the amended indictment, the former Pekan MP faces four charges of using his position to obtain RM2.28 billion from 1MDB’s funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.