KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah denied that the defence in the corruption trial of Datuk Seri Najib Razak was seeking to delay proceedings.
The prominent lawyer, who is leading the defence team in the former Prime Minister’s trial, insisted that there was no request for a delay involving the trial.
This as the defence team was in agreement for the trial to proceed, he said.
He clarified that the notice of motion to challenge the charges faced by the Pekan Member of Parliament, filed by the defence team at the 11th hour as the charges against his client were deemed as being defective.
“First of all, there was no attempt to postpone (the trial).
“What we did today, is what everyone would have done if they are charged with charges that are defective, and if you (want to) complain about the charges you must do so before the start of the trial,” he explained.
Shafee said the motion was submitted before the trial and insisted that there was no move to delay the case.
This he said was stated by two separate Court of Appeal’s decision on the matter.
“Two separate courts of appeal noted that the defence was not delaying (the trial).
“We don’t care what the learned Attorney-General said. His opinion is not relevant to us, because two courts had said that we did not delay (the trial),” he said.
Shafee, meanwhile, complained that Attorney-General Tommy Thomas’ opening speech at the beginning of the trial was complicated and the charges imposed was not sensible.
“If you read the opening speech, you will find that he says nothing more than the charges.
“In fact, it did not follow the procedure under section 179 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) which, among others, says that the prosecution will have to state the manner in which they are going to prove this (the charges).
“It is more of a political speech,” he said.
Shafee also clarified the role played by Former Solicitor-General II of Malaysia Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abidin, who is part of his defence team.
“For this occasion, he was brought in for purpose of challenging the charges. That is his specific role,” he said.
Shafee also said that he is confident of winning the case.
This, he said, would be dependent upon the defence being called, which would allow Najib to give his side of the story on the charges he is facing.
Najib is facing seven charges relating to criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering involving RM42 million he received from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The trial is presided over by High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.