محضير بريتاهو نجيب كيس ريز ءنورمل بارو، بريتا باءيق باڬي ڤنچوريء
Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit out at Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over the latter’s defence of his step-son, Riza Aziz.
Mahathir questioned how Najib could construe money laundering as not being a crime since Riza’s release was, as Najib himself put it, investigated under AMLA.
“What do you call this generosity if it is not plea bargain? As Dato Seri Anwar said, in Malaysia you can steal ten chickens but if you give back one chicken then you are free to enjoy the nine others.
“This is great for thieves. Maybe it is also great for certain lawyers. But we have to keep a close watch of our pockets and safes. And foreign tourists too should be careful. This is the new normal in Malaysia.”
PETALING JAYA: Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit out at Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over the latter’s defence of his step-son, Riza Aziz.
On the 22ndof May 2020, Najib disputed an earlier claim by Mahathir that the “plea bargaining” in Riza’s case had set a dangerous precedent for future proceedings.
According to Najib, Riza’s case had nothing to do with plea bargaining as the latter had been charged under the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 (AMLA Act), not as a criminal case under the Penal Code.
Najib added that plea bargains were only for criminal cases, not civil suits, and it was true Malaysia did not employ such settlements for criminal cases.
To this, Mahathir questioned how Najib could construe money laundering as not being a crime since Riza’s release was, as Najib himself put it, investigated under AMLA.
“If it is not a crime then what is his discharge not amounting to an acquittal about – acquittal for what if money laundering is not a crime?
“Incidentally, the same law includes Anti-terrorism Financing Act – which of course is not a crime. Call it by any name but the settlement is unique.
“A thief steals money and when arrested is charged with stealing or abusing power or retaining illegally acquired money and asked to give back some of the money. He then will be discharged though not acquitted,” Mahathir said.
He then pointed out that not being acquitted amounts to Riza still being guilty as charged.
“That’s okay. All he has to do is to give back less than half of the money he has stolen. This means he will enjoy more than half of the money he had stolen and be a free man.
“What do you call this generosity if it is not plea bargain? As Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim said, in Malaysia you can steal ten chickens but if you give back one chicken then you are free to enjoy the nine others.
“This is great for thieves. Maybe it is also great for certain lawyers. But we have to keep a close watch of our pockets and safes. And foreign tourists too should be careful. This is the new normal in Malaysia.”
THE THIRD FORCE
NOTA: SAYA MEMBUAT PENGUMUMAN-PENGUMUMAN PENTING DARI MASA KE SEMASA EKSKLUSIF MENERUSI SALURAN TELEGRAM BERIKUT:
