The Court of Appeal has just granted Najib’s request to have his passport temporarily released to allow him to visit his daughter, Nooryana Najwa, who is due to deliver her second baby soon in Singapore.
The application was not objected by the Deputy public prosecutor, Mohd Fairuz Johari and was unanimously agreed by the three-member bench chaired by Datuk Seri Kamaludin Md Said with Datuk P. Ravinthran and Datuk Abu Bakar Jais.
“Seeing as the reason given is also reasonable, the application to have the passport temporarily returned is allowed.” Kamaludin was quoted as saying by The Vibes.
Meanwhile, Kamaludin said Najib’s passport will be released on Wednesday (20 October) to renew the travel documents to visit Singapore from 3 November. He is required to surrender his passport back to the court on 22 November too.
With Najib’s passport returned to him, this is the first time the former prime minister is allowed to leave the country since the Barisan Nasional government was ousted in the last general election on 9 May 2018. His passport was taken away after criminal charges were filed against him a few months later.
Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said that Najib is set to leave for Singapore after participating in the debate on the Budget 2022 a day earlier.
He said that Najib is expected to travel to Singapore on 3 November and will return on 20 November. Following which, his representative will return the passport to the court on Monday (22 November) as Najib would be under quarantine upon his return.
The latest development would meant that Najib will be accompanying his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to visit their daughter in Singapore. Rosmah had received the similar approval last week approved by the High Court in Shah Alam.
It was reported that Najib filed for the temporary return of his passport at the Court of Appeal last week.
Meanwhile, Najib is currently under court bail amounting to RM7 million, according to Berita Harian.
“I have never failed to attend a trial in court on purpose unless I am obliged to carry out my responsibilities as an elected representative or am ill.”
“Besides, considering my position at the moment, the average person knows me. It’s impossible to think of me as a ‘flight risk’ because wherever I am, there must be people who know me.” he said.
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