PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has likened his ongoing legal battles to an intensive education in law — one he claims could rival a university degree.
The former prime minister said this while testifying in his corruption trial for misappropriating billions of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds today.
"Six years of this is more than a university education! At this point, I feel like I could teach a course on not just criminal law, but also civil law, and even how taxation law can be abused.
"It's been an intensive, hands-on learning experience, though I wouldn't recommend it to anyone," he quipped before presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
The former Pekan member of parliament, who had been testifying in English all this while, suddenly switched to Malay when pleading for the judge to consider his appeal with compassion and fairness.
"Your Honour, I appeal to your wisdom and sense of justice. Amid the facts and allegations presented, I am merely an individual seeking the opportunity to defend the truth.
"Please do not allow justice to fall victim to political games and malicious intent.
"I earnestly plead for Your Honour to assess this matter with a sincere heart and clear eyes, to ensure that this court remains the final bastion of justice," he said.
Najib faces four charges of abusing his position to receive RM2.3 billion in bribes from 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial continues.