by
Maclean Patrick
Thursday is D-Day for Prime Minister Najib Razak and wife
Rosmah Mansor’s court appearance to strike out their subpoena to appear in the
Sodomy II trial. Already, expectations are high that the two will never take a
step into a court room, but instead, as in the case of Mahathir Mohamad, their
lawyers will represent them.
But although these two instances of men in power getting the
courts to strike out summonses unfavourable to them is similar in that they
reek of abuse of power, there are some clear differences that may sway the
outcome.
In former premier Mahathir Mohamad's case, the subpoena was
struck out because there was no clear evidence to show that Mahathir had ever
met the accuser but in Sodomy II, by Najib’s own admission, he did meet Saiful.
The very fact that Najib, then the Deputy Prime Minister, had denied the
meeting but was forced to U-turn and confirm meeting Saiful can in itself
support the conspiracy theory as mentioned by Anwar Ibrahim.
"The preparation entailed in this conspiracy was most
elaborate and went all the way to the Prime Minister himself and his wife
Rosmah Mansor both of whom by the complainant’s own admission had met him in
their residence where he purportedly complained of being sexually
assaulted," Anwar had said from the dock on the first day of his defence
being called.
A
material witness
Anwar's claim is that Najib and Rosmah conspired to plot the
Sodomy II case against him and that both Najib and Rosmah must prove themselves
not guilty of this claim. And since Najib is a material witness for having met
complainant Saiful Bukhari Azlan just before the latter lodged his police
report against Anwar, it is now for Najib to prove that his meeting with Saiful
was really about scholarship issues, as he claims, and not to plot Anwar’s time
in jail.
Otherwise, Najib cannot strike out the subpoena, he has to
take the witness stand. Unless, of course, the court disgraces itself with yet
another questionable decision that will be watched closely and evaluated upon
by other nations and investors around the world.
These are things that Najib and his Umno party must take
cognizance of. Malaysia is already in the early throes of a long drawn-out
recession. It cannot afford further blows to its credibility and Najib has more
than any other prime minister since independence in 1957 brought disgrace and
scandal to the country.
The Umno Supreme Council would do well to take note and cut
its losses with him, lest the country deteriorates into such a state it is no
longer worth fighting over with the opposition.
Scorpenes-Altantuya
on the 30th
And all this will happen on September 29, while on September
30 French lawyers will be giving their latest update in London on the Scorpenes
kickbacks case involving shipmaker DCN, Najib, his close friend Razak Baginda
and murdered Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The detainment and deportation of French lawyer William
Bourdon on July 22 is just another in the string of bizarre acts by Najib to
cover up the corruption allegations against him.
Bourdon had confirmed to Penangites on July 21 that the
French authorities had approved Suaram's request for an investigative judge - a
major step forward for their case to uncover the bribes allegedly paid by DCN
to top Malaysian officials, including Najib who was then the Defense minister
sanctioning the deal.
In his presentation in Penang, Bourdon did not give details
of the latest evidence uncovered by the French police. He was expected to share
more details in the second briefing, which was due to be held in Kuala Lumpur
on July 23. However, he had promised that Malaysians would get the "truth
and justice" they sought. And as if sensing the danger ahead, he even told
Malaysians to have courage.
"Despite many obstacles and although such proceedings
are complex and difficult, the truth shall emerge in France and we will expose
the corruption related to the submarine deal. We will reveal and disclose
details on all the beneficiaries. I am confident in Malaysians to overcome
difficulties and I wish you courage," William said.
Time
for Umno to do its own spring cleaning
Prophetic words indeed, for upon reaching Kuala Lumpur from
Penang, Bourdon was detained and deported. Small wonder if Malaysia is now
ranked among the governments that not only repress and oppress their own
citizens but also foreign nationals on visits to their clients.
More shameful is the clear inference that something in
Bourdon's speech at the Penang fund-raiser had ruffled enough feathers to
prompt his ejection from the country. Perhaps by doing so, Najib may have
already marked himself as being 'guilty as charged'.
Buffed by the pomp and arrogance of office behind him, Najib
may feel he has full control over what happens on the 29th. But what will
transpire on the 30th is a different ball game. What the French lawyers will
reveal in London is of high interest to Malaysians. Will we finally learn of
who the third person was who accompanied Razak Baginda and Altantuya to Macau?
Will we be given a full picture as to the depth of the corruption involved in
the purchase of the Scorpene submarines that have put such a dent in the
nation's coffers?
The last week of September is truly filled with drama, as we
head into a general election widely expected to take place in November. Whether
BN wins or loses, it is time for coalition boss Umno to wake up to the fact
that it is time to change the channel, rid the nation of such scandalous
characters and accept the people's call for a two-party system.
Source : MC
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