Politically Motivated Us Govt Blocked Me From 1mdb Evidence Najib

---

 


1MDB TRIAL | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak lamented that the United States under Joe Biden was “politically motivated” in blocking him from obtaining 1MDB-linked evidence.
He claimed that Loretta Lynch (above), who was the US attorney-general from 2015-2017, hindered his application before the country’s court to obtain the testimony of convicted former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner.
“It is very clear it is politically motivated. The evidence is exculpatory in nature. I am inclined to think of the Malay description ‘Bukti yang boleh melepaskan seseorang’. (Evidence that can free someone)
“It will show the charade they (the US government) had when Lynch had such a big presence and very unprecedented manner.
“With this evidence available, it would mean the whole show was very politically motivated and I think that is the main reason why they sought to block it (Najib’s discovery application) as they come from the same party (US Democratic Party).
“Now that there has been a change of government, (perhaps I) could have that (evidence),” Najib mused over the recent electoral victory of Republican nominee and president-elect Donald Trump.
US president-elect Donald TrumpWhen lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah asked why the US is interested in depriving the accused of obtaining the evidence, Najib replied “I can only speculate”.
Najib’s testimony before the Kuala Lumpur High Court today was in rebuttal of the RM2.27 billion 1MDB abuse of power and money laundering case against the former chairperson of the troubled Malaysian sovereign wealth fund’s board of advisors.
US govt’s denial
In 2021, the US government denied seeking to bar Najib from accessing 1MDB-linked documents and testimonies.
It also rubbished allegations that it is in cahoots with investment bank Goldman Sachs to prevent the former Malaysian prime minister from obtaining the material.
Najib was seeking the bank and Leissner to hand him the material that he contended was important to his defence against the current 1MDB case on trial in Malaysia.
It is understood that Najib sought material on alleged corrupt arrangements between some 1MDB officials, wanted fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho, and Leissner.
Tim Leissner (left) and Low Taek JhoNajib’s legal team in New York claimed the material showed the alleged arrangements were individually reached by these 1MDB officials without the involvement of the then-Malaysian prime minister.
‘Justice must also be seen to be done’
Meanwhile, during today’s proceedings, Najib reminded the MACC that “justice must not only be done but seen to be done”.
The ex-premier was referring to a report he lodged with the anti-graft watchdog against Leissner, which he said had not received a response.
Najib testified that he lodged the report with MACC for the anti-graft agency to obtain further evidence, following Leissner’s 2018 guilty plea in a New York court over a criminal case linked to 1MDB.
Leissner is still awaiting sentencing.
“They (MACC) owe this to the people, and for the sake of good governance and for justice, I like the quote that as we all know, justice must not only be done but seen to be done.
“It is like going into a black hole in the universe,” Najib lamented. 
On Oct 30, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered Najib to enter his defence over four abuse of power and 21 money laundering charges involving RM2.27 billion of funds from 1MDB.
Najib is serving a six-year jail sentence over a separate abuse of power case involving RM42 million of funds from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
The 1MDB criminal trial resumes on Monday. - Mkini

---