Najib did not take money for his personal gain: Lawyer

KUALA LUMPUR: The monies linked to the criminal breach of trust charges faced by Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak was used for the wellbeing of the nation, said lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Muhammad Shafee who is representing Najib told the court that his client did not take any money that was mentioned in the charges for his personal benefit.
"The first two charges are wholly unfounded because the decision undertaken by my client and the second accused (Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah) was for the good of the nation and public.
"Or else it would have triggered a default which would have been disastrous," he said adding that the charges involved land acquisition for two different projects," he said this in submitting for former prime minister Najib's bail.
He had in his submissions said, charges three to six were in relation to the payment due to the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).
The lawyer further said the funds were initially allocated for a purpose but was diverted for re-prioritization of funding for purposes of settlement to IPIC.
Shafee who described the charges against his client as atrocious and absurd said his team of lawyers were delighted after they read the charges.
"We are looking forward to defend the case and looking forward for the trial," he said.
Earlier today, Najib and former Treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to six counts of criminal breach of trust (CBT) of RM6,636,065,000 of funds belonging to the Malaysian government. — Bernama