KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission ( MACC) has been accused of trying to scuttle Datuk Seri Najib Razak's right to a fair trial.
The former prime minister's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the graft busters had done this by blocking his client's access to information about his own bank accounts.
He said MACC had done it with "no basis of any law", and had therefore abused its powers.
"This is oppressive, clear abuse of power and victimisation by the MACC against Najib," he said.
Shafee said this when submitting on the basis of his complaint against MACC for preventing Najib from getting information about his AmBank accounts without the green light from the agency first.
The senior lawyer had complained about the issue earlier this month and the parties were told to submit on it today.
Shafee said after he raised the issue in court, MACC suddenly allowed the bank to provide the information which was required.
However, he said the defence still wanted the court to make a ruling to prevent a similar situation from recurring.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk V Sithambaram, however, contended that since the documents had been obtained by the defence "it should be the end of the matter".
He argued that the court should not interfere as MACC had its own powers and its investigations were ongoing.
He also dismissed claims that the accused was not getting a fair trial because of what the MACC had done.
Shafee then countered that he was not saying the MACC should be prevented from pursuing its investigation.
"All we are saying is that they should not stop us from doing our homework.
"This is a clear cut abuse of power and they (MACC) have been caught with their pants down," he said.
Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali will rule on the issue after lunch.
Najib, 66, is facing charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering involving RM42 million of SRC International funds.
He faces 20 years' jail and fine for the offences.