KUALA LUMPUR: Journalists covering Datuk Seri Najib Razak's RM27 million money laundering charges were barred from entering the High Court today.
The court complex's security officer said this was requested by the former prime minister for security reasons.
The media, all this while, were allowed to cover Najib's corruption trial via a live feed provided in a seperate room.
On Feb 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial to three other charges of money laundering by accepting proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM27 million through his three AmPrivate Banking accounts.
He allegedly committed all the offences at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, AmBank Group Building, No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan on July 8, 2014, under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
He faces a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, if convicted.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence in Kajang Prison after the Federal Court had on Aug 23, 2022, upheld the conviction and jail term and a fine of RM210 million against him after finding him guilty of misappropriating SRC International Sdn Bhd funds amounting to RM42 million.