New judge takes over Najib's RM27 million SRC money laundering case

Former prime minister Najib Razak's money laundering trial over RM27 million in SRC International funds was heard before a new judge at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today. 

Judge K Muniandy replaced Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, who was promoted to the Court of Appeal.

During the proceedings, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said both parties had previously informed the court that the trial should be postponed as a decision on Najib's application for a review of his RM42 million SRC International case at the Federal Court had not yet been made. 

"The date of the review decision has not yet been decided, and it (the date) will be notified by the Federal Court Registrar soon. Both the prosecution and the defence would like to request that the date for the management of this case be fixed in May," he said.

Lawyer Alaistair Brandah Norman, representing Najib, agreed.
 
Muniandy then set May 29 for case management.
 
On Feb 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial to three charges of laundering money by accepting proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM27 million through his three AmPrivate Banking accounts.

He allegedly committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank, Ambank Group Building, No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan on July 8, 2014, under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

He faces a maximum fine of RM5 million, imprisonment of up to five years, or both, upon conviction.

Najib began serving a 12-year jail sentence at Kajang Prison after the Federal Court, on Aug 23, 2022, upheld his conviction, jail term and fine of RM210 million after finding him guilty of misappropriating SRC International funds amounting to RM42 million.