Najib-Irwan duet over 6 charges. #WhoIsNext?

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 – While former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had been alone when charged over allegations of money laundering, abuse of power and tax evasion, on three separate occasions since July, today he was jointly charged with the former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar for committing criminal breach of trust.

At the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today, the duo were charged with six counts of criminal breach of trust involving more than RM6.63 billion. They pleaded not guilty to all charges.

As finance minister under the previous Barisan Nasional government, Najib worked closely with Irwan, who was the top civil servant in the finance ministry.

With today’s charges, the total number of charges that Attorney-General Tommy Thomas has brought against Najib now stands at 38.

He was first charged with criminal breach of trust, money-laundering and abuse of power involving RM42 million from a former 1MDB subsidiary, SRC International, and later on the infamous RM2.6 billion deposited into his personal accounts in 2013, which were allegedly from 1MDB.

These latest charges against Najib and Irwan are also related to funds linked to 1MDB.

Each of the six charges carries a maximum jail term of 20 years, caning and a fine, if they are found guilty.

Shafee leads defence team, Rosmah’s lawyers represent Irwan

Prominent Umno lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who also faces charges for money laundering and tax evasion over RM9.5 million he received from Najib in 2013 and 2014, represented Najib and Irwan.

Their defence team also included K. Kumaraendran, Geethan Ram Vincent, Harvinderjit Singh, Farhan Read, Wan Aizuddin, Rahmat Hazlan, Muhammad Farhan Shafee and Syahirah Hanapia.

Kumaraendran and Geetham are also representing Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also facing charges on multiple counts of money laundering and tax evasion.

Like in the previous cases against Najib and Shafee, former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram will represent the AG as a special prosecutor.

The six charges against Najib and Irwan

An unofficial release of the six charges by the AG’s office, reveals as follows:

First charge

That they, on 21 December 2016 at the Malaysian Finance Ministry Complex in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, as a public servant, that is as Finance Minister and Treasury Secretary-General respectively in that capacity had been entrusted with power over a property, that is a sum of RM1.2 billion, belonging to the Government of Malaysia, had committed a criminal breach of trust on that property, which is an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same Act.

Second charge

That they, on 21 December 2016 at the Malaysian Finance Ministry Complex in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, as a public servant, that is as Finance Minister and Treasury Secretary-General respectively in that capacity had been entrusted with power over a property, that is a sum of RM655 million, belonging to the Government of Malaysia, had committed a criminal breach of trust on that property, which is an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same Act.

Third charge

That they, on 21 December 2016 at the Malaysian Finance Ministry Complex in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, as a public servant, that is as Finance Minister and Treasury Secretary-General respectively in that capacity had been entrusted with power over a property, that is a sum of RM220 million, an allocation under “Management Budget under the Definition of B11 Treasury General Services, Activity 021700 KL International Airport Berhad (KLIAB)”, belonging to the Government of Malaysia, had committed a criminal breach of trust on that property, which is an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same Act.

Fourth charge

That they, on 10 August 2017 at the Malaysian Finance Ministry Complex in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, as a public servant, that is as Finance Minister and Treasury Secretary-General respectively in that capacity had been entrusted with power over a property, that is a sum of RM1.3 billion, an allocation under “Management Budget under the Definition of B11 Treasury General Services, Activity 020500 Subsidy and Cash Assistance”, belonging to the Government of Malaysia, had committed a criminal breach of trust on that property, which is an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same Act.

Fifth charge

That they, on 10 August 2017 at the Malaysian Finance Ministry Complex in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, as a public servant, that is as Finance Minister and Treasury Secretary-General respectively in that capacity had been entrusted with power over a property, that is a sum of CNY1,950,000,000.00 (valued at RM1,261,065,000.00), belonging to the Government of Malaysia, had committed a criminal breach of trust on that property, which is an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same Act.

Sixth charge

That they, on 10 August 2017 at the Malaysian Finance Ministry Complex in the Federal Territory of Putrajaya, as a public servant, that is as Finance Minister and Treasury Secretary-General respectively in that capacity had been entrusted with power over a property, that is a sum of RM2 billion, belonging to the Government of Malaysia, had committed a criminal breach of trust on that property, which is an offence punishable under Section 409 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same Act.

Video went viral

On a separate news, a video of Irwan dancing at an event recently went viral over Whatsapp.

Who’s Next?

With Irwan Serigar joining those already charged for their involvement with various scandals of corruption, it is only a question of Who Is Next?

Ex-spy chief Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid of Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) earlier claimed trial today to criminal breach of trust (CBT) over the alleged embezzlement of US$12.1 million (RM50.4 million) of government funds. The Sessions Court imposed a RM500,000 bail with two sureties and ordered Hasanah to surrender her passport.

Other high ranking officials who allegedly helped Najib with various rumors of corruption are still at large, among them former AG Tan Sri Apandi Ali and former Securities Commission Chairman Tan Sri Ranjit Ajit Singh.

-NMT