The Court of Appeal’s decision to sustain Najib’s SRC conviction is upsetting to UMNO

Malaysia – The Umno Supreme Council voiced “disappointment” after the Court of Appeal in Kuala Lumpur’s decision to maintain former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak‘s conviction for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said in a statement today that this was the council’s position after a meeting headed by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“With due respect for the Court of Appeal’s decision, the meeting expects that his (Najib’s) appeal to the Federal Court will be heard fairly, since many believe that some leaders were accused after the 14th general election (GE14) for political purposes.

“Umno believes that the legal system of the nation must always adhere to the greatest values of justice,” the statement stated.

Najib lost his Court of Case appeal yesterday, in which he sought to overturn the High Court’s July 28, 2020 ruling convicting him of all seven counts connected to SRC’s RM42 million.

Najib was previously sentenced to ten years in prison on each of six charges (three counts of criminal breach of trust and three counts of money laundering), as well as 12 years in prison and an RM210 million fine, plus an additional five years in prison if the fine for the abuse of position charge is not paid.

The High Court had previously ruled that Najib’s prison sentences would run concurrently or concurrently, implying a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison for Najib.

A three-judge bench of the Court of Appeal recently found that the High Court made no mistakes in its judgement, upholding Najib’s conviction, RM210 million fine, and prison term.

Najib was previously sentenced to ten years in prison on each of six charges (three counts of criminal breach of trust and three counts of money laundering), as well as 12 years in prison and an RM210 million fine, plus an additional five years in prison if the fine for the abuse of position charge is not paid.

The High Court had previously ruled that Najib’s prison sentences would run concurrently or concurrently, implying a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison for Najib.

Najib has subsequently filed an appeal with the Federal Court, attempting to overturn the majority decision of the Court of Appeal.