KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah for six charges of criminal breach of trust involving Government assets worth RM6.6 billion. Judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin made the decision after allowing the DNAA application submitted by lawyers Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran, who acted for Najib and Mohd Irwan, respectively.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the judge stated, ‘Based on the facts and arguments presented by both counsels, as well as the circumstances of the case, I am exercising my inherent power to discharge not amounting to acquittal the first (Najib) and second (Mohd Irwan) accused from all six charges.’ The decision marks a significant development in the legal proceedings concerning the alleged misappropriation of Government assets linked to the former high-ranking officials.
The char
ges against Najib and Mohd Irwan were related to criminal breach of trust, centered on the misuse of substantial government funds. The DNAA granted does not equate to a full acquittal, meaning that while they are released from the charges for now, the possibility of future prosecution remains if new evidence emerges.
This case has been closely watched due to its implications for governmental accountability and the handling of public assets. Najib, who has faced multiple legal challenges in recent years, and Mohd Irwan, as a former top treasury official, have both been under scrutiny for their roles in financial management during their tenure.
The legal teams for both Najib and Mohd Irwan argued for the DNAA based on the presented facts and legal interpretations, which the judge found compelling enough to warrant a discharge under the specific conditions set by the court. The developments in this case continue to attract public and media attention as stakeholders await further legal proceedings or potential
appeals.