02-07-2024, 10:08 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-07-2024, 10:08 AM by superadmin.)
Has mercy robbed justice from the nation? – Malaysian Bar
THE Malaysian Bar expresses its deep disappointment over the reduction of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's (“Najib”) prison sentence and fine following his conviction by the courts in the SRC International case, as announced by the Pardons Board through the Prime Minister’s Department on February 2, 2024.
The SRC International case, which saw Najib being hauled to face justice before the Judiciary to answer for his egregious crimes against the nation, took four long years across all levels of the Superior Courts in Malaysia, beginning with its inception on July 4, 2018, when he was first charged in the Sessions Court, until August 23, 2022, when the Federal Court upheld Najib’s conviction and sentence, as originally pronounced by the High Court. Much judicial time, taxpayers’ expenses and costs were expended to ensure justice was meted out by the Judiciary in imposing punishments that fit the crimes committed by Najib.
The Federal Court’s decision, which should have brought an end to all possible avenues of appeal for Najib, represented more than just a victory for Malaysians. It was a message to the world that Malaysia was not afraid to bring to heel all those who break the law, regardless of their station or status in life. It was a message that Malaysia was committed to good governance and upholding the rule of law — that those who dared to make the citizens suffer for monies laundered to the detriment of the nation must pay for their crimes and be continually deterred from committing such crimes. It was a message that perpetrators of such crimes against the nation should not be spared so easily for the huge debts incurred that would eventually be passed on and undertaken by the citizens of Malaysia. It was a message that brought credibility to the administration of justice in the country and to the Malaysian Judiciary.
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The SRC International case, which saw Najib being hauled to face justice before the Judiciary to answer for his egregious crimes against the nation, took four long years across all levels of the Superior Courts in Malaysia, beginning with its inception on July 4, 2018, when he was first charged in the Sessions Court, until August 23, 2022, when the Federal Court upheld Najib’s conviction and sentence, as originally pronounced by the High Court. Much judicial time, taxpayers’ expenses and costs were expended to ensure justice was meted out by the Judiciary in imposing punishments that fit the crimes committed by Najib.
The Federal Court’s decision, which should have brought an end to all possible avenues of appeal for Najib, represented more than just a victory for Malaysians. It was a message to the world that Malaysia was not afraid to bring to heel all those who break the law, regardless of their station or status in life. It was a message that Malaysia was committed to good governance and upholding the rule of law — that those who dared to make the citizens suffer for monies laundered to the detriment of the nation must pay for their crimes and be continually deterred from committing such crimes. It was a message that perpetrators of such crimes against the nation should not be spared so easily for the huge debts incurred that would eventually be passed on and undertaken by the citizens of Malaysia. It was a message that brought credibility to the administration of justice in the country and to the Malaysian Judiciary.
- More -