Renowned lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has unveiled that an essential witness is poised to provide testimony bolstering Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's bid for house arrest. This revelation emerged during the application hearing at the High Court, where Najib's legal counsel informed Judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh about the forthcoming witness testimony, pivotal in challenging an alleged supplementary decree purportedly sanctioned by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Shafee, in his submission to the court, disclosed that the witness, currently in Mecca for the final ten days of Ramadan, would soon furnish an affidavit in support of Najib's application. He stressed the crucial nature of this testimony, asserting its significance even at this juncture of the proceedings. Shafee sought a brief adjournment until April 17 to accommodate the witness's return, which was granted by Judge Amarjeet.
Senior Federal Counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly, representing the respondent, raised no objections to the adjournment request. Accordingly, the court directed that written submissions be filed by April 15 to facilitate further proceedings.
Meanwhile, efforts by lawyer Abhilaash Subramaniam, representing the Bar Council, to observe the proceedings were rebuffed by the judge due to pending authorization. This decision reaffirmed that the current phase remains an ex-parte application.
Post-proceedings, Muhammad Shafee declined to disclose the identity of the pivotal witness to reporters, underscoring the sensitivity surrounding the matter.
Najib's application names multiple respondents, including the Home Minister, Commissioner General of Prisons, Attorney General, and Board of Pardons for the Federal Territories, among others. The crux of the application revolves around a mandamus order, compelling the respondents to confirm the existence of an additional decree purportedly dated January 29, 2024.
Should the alleged decree be confirmed, Najib seeks an order for his transfer from Kajang Prison to his Kuala Lumpur residence, thereby serving the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. Najib, currently serving a prison term since August 23, 2022, for embezzlement charges related to SRC International Sdn Bhd, had petitioned for a royal pardon on September 2, 2022.
The subsequent reduction of Najib's prison sentence from 12 years to six, accompanied by a reduction in the fine, forms the backdrop against which his plea for house arrest unfolds. As legal proceedings unfold, Najib's bid for house arrest continues to navigate through intricate legal terrain, shrouded in anticipation and legal intricacies.
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