Najib slapped with slew of ‘wrong charges’

Good morning. Here’s our news and views that matter for today.

Key Highlights

Najib slapped with slew of ‘wrong charges’

Ten dead as navy helis collide mid-air

No glitter in PKR’s silver jubilee

Najib slapped with slew of ‘wrong charges’

Lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has claimed that the 25 1MDB-related charges levelled against his client, former premier Najib Abdul Razak, are “all wrong”.

Shafee informed Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah of the defence team’s intention to challenge the legality of the criminal charges.

The lead defence counsel said the charges are defective as they involve the issue of duplicity and multiplicity.

Duplicity is when two or more offences are mentioned in a single charge. There is a legal prohibition against introducing more than one alleged offence in a single charge.

Multiplicity refers to when a single offence is charged in more than one count. The law forbids multiplicitous charges because they can result in an accused being punished more than once for the same offence, thus violating the principle of double jeopardy.

Najib, who is serving a prison sentence over his previous conviction in the SRC International case, is on trial for four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering.

The matter has been on full trial since 2019, and the prosecution has yet to close the case against the former premier.

HIGHLIGHTS

Senior citizen lands in jail for stealing sardines, Nescafe

‘Just shut up’ – Fahmi tells Sanusi

Umno and Harapan will ‘die together’ in KKB – PAS Youth chief

Ten dead as navy helis collide mid-air

Ten people died after two Royal Malaysian Navy helicopters collided in mid-air during a rehearsal session in Lumut, Perak.

Three of the deceased were in a HOM (M503-3) helicopter whereas the others were in a Fennec (M502-6) chopper.

The helicopters collided during training for the 90th Naval Day celebration, which has since been called off due to the incident.

In a statement, the navy said it would form an inquiry board to establish the cause of the incident.

“The navy urges the public to not circulate videos of the incident for the sake of the (deceased’s) families’ sensitivities and the investigation process,” it added.

HIGHLIGHTS

Stop riding on race, religion – Adam tells PAS counterpart

Wee questions need to support DAP in KKB polls

Ex-DPP: Community service better than jail for man who stole sardines

No glitter in PKR’s silver jubilee

PKR, founded by Anwar Ibrahim, celebrated its 25th anniversary over the weekend. However, its former vice-president N Surendran argued there is no reason to rejoice.

Surendran, who quit PKR in February, claimed that the party is “morally dead”.

After promising reforms for more than two decades since its inception, the former Padang Serai MP accused PKR of dishing out “excuses” after coming into power.

Surendran claimed that those who “fought and risked jail to bring PKR to power, fought for nothing”.

“It is a morally dead party, propped up by the trappings of power, focused only on staying in power,” he added.

Surendran had quit PKR after expressing disappointment with Pakatan Harapan’s “shameful silence” on the sedition probe against former DAP MP Tony Pua over his remarks about the commutation of ex-premier Najib Abdul Razak’s prison sentence and fine.

HIGHLIGHTS

Go join Bersatu’s struggle with Azmin, PKR leader tells Surendran

Ramasamy wants PN to nominate Indian candidate for KKB polls

Unlike PN, Anwar’s govt won’t ruffle royal feathers: PM’s aide

Views that matter

How much more must we bend for Najib?

By P Gunasegaram

A journo’s close encounters with the top cop

By R Nadeswaran

KKB polls: PN has upper hand but…

By Ong Kian Ming

Other news that matter

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia has gained world attention as a premier investment destination due to its political stability and clear economic policies.

Muda and PSM are scheduled to meet and discuss whether either party will field its candidate against Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has called out governments that facilitated Palestinians who wished to escape Gaza.

HIGHLIGHTS

After UN rebuke, Bangladesh to meet M’sian officials on migrant worker issue

How did Afif know of alleged RM100m payment for PJD Link, asks PJ MP

Appellate court sets Oct 23, 24 to hear Rosmah’s appeal over graft conviction