KUALA LUMPUR: All those charged with offences related to the abuse of 1Malaysia Development Bhd funds will get a fair trial.
In assuring the current government's commitment to the rule of law, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the guarantee was even extended to his nemesis, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"We believe in the rule of law. Whatever the law says, we accept.
"If he (Najib) has to go on trial, then he should. If he's charged and found guilty, then the rule of law will apply.
"If he's found innocent, then the rule of law will also apply," Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying during an interview with CNBC's Sri Jegarajah, when asked whether the world's oldest prime minister could ensure that Najib would receive a fair trial.
Dr Mahathir said his government was different than the previous administration, which he claimed had interfered with the judiciary.
"I must admit that, in the previous regime, there was an attempt to fiddle with the judiciary. But we want a free judiciary and we hope that they will not be biased."
Najib has been charged with 32 counts of money-laundering and abuse of power over billions of ringgit received in his personal account, following a probe into the controversial 1MDB which he chaired.
Najib has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
He is now expected to face another round of charges relating to graft and abuse of power over projects involving billions of ringgit, alongside with a former special officer, two former ministers and a former deputy minister.
It is believed that Najib, a former minister and the former special officer were involved in a project to supply and install solar panels at 369 schools in Sarawak at a cost of RM1.25 billion.