Najib’s Gag Order to Restrain Media from Talking About His Court Case was Denied

Looks like former prime minister Najib Razak will have to talk after all! After making an appeal to the high court for a gag order that will restrain the media from talking about his court cases, he was promptly denied of the application.

According to New Straits Times, Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali meted out the judgement after hearing submissions by the applicant led by counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohd Hanafiah Zakaria today.

The judge said that the existing law of contempt and defamation already provide ready measures to deal with whatever substantial risk of prejudice or interference with the criminal justice system. He then added that the former premiere had also fallen short of establishing his case. This led him to dismiss his appeal. Ouch! Talk about rubbing salt into the wound!

Source: Free Malaysia Today

Muhammad Shafie, Najib Razak’s counsel, had earlier asserted that the media frenzy surrounding his client’s case have resulted in a backlash that assumes his client’s guilt.

“It can be inferred that the applicant is seeking the world at large to be restrained from publishing in the media any reports or comments that would imply his (Najib) guilt,” he was reported saying.

Earlier, Najib had reportedly spent about 7 hours in the dock during the proceeding! That’s the longest he’s spent in the dock from all his charges!

Source: Getty Images

Also read: KJ Arrives at Sentul Police Station to Report Najib For Alleged Stealing of RM18 Billion GST Funds