Hiding evidence in Najib’s trial will be unjust, says Zaid

(FMT) – Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has cautioned against a miscarriage of justice in Najib Razak’s trial in the SRC International case at the Court of Appeal.

Speaking to FMT, he said the court should allow Najib’s request for new evidence to be adduced.

Any concealment or suppression of evidence that could help the former prime minister’s defence would be a miscarriage of justice, he added.

Yesterday, it was reported that Najib’s lawyers had filed an application to adduce fresh evidence, days before the Court of Appeal delivers its decision on the case.

The pieces of evidence include those from Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Azam Baki and SRC investigating officer Rosli Hussein or others the lawyers said the court might deem fit.

In his affidavit in support of the motion, Najib said all issues raised in the High Court and Court of Appeal had not been fully determined and that it was within the interest of justice that he get a fair trial by having all evidence produced.

This followed revelations that RM65 million in 1MDB-linked funds had been retrieved from a company controlled by the husband of former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akthar Aziz.

Najib said the additional evidence from Azam and Rosli needed to be taken as it was not available during the trial.

“There are aspects to the prosecution case that are gallingly poor,” said Zaid. “Critical evidence relating to payments to Zeti’s husband was not made available to the defence and it will be unsafe to convict Najib based on the prosecution’s case as presented.

“In our criminal justice system, the prosecution must never suppress or conceal evidence that would be helpful to the defence. It would be a miscarriage of justice.”