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I am vindicated, says Irwan after 1MDB case discharge

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah said he was confident there was no case against him in the 1MDB criminal breach of trust trial.

The former Treasury secretary-general said everything he did was according to government procedures.

He thanked God that the case was finally over after six years and two months.

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Irwan were charged in 2018 with CBT amounting to RM6.6 billion.

High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin today granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to Najib and Irwan.

Jamil said the prosecution had failed to hand over hundreds of documents related to the trial to the defence team.

These included records from cabinet meetings, the Finance Ministry, the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry and the Transport Ministry.

"I was confident there was no case against me because everything was done according to government procedures and with the cabinet's approval," said Irwan.

"I am vindicated. Hopefully, I can go on my umrah now," he told reporters at the court complex here."

Irwan's lawyer Datuk Seri K. Kumaraendran said the court's decision was right.

"My client has been suffering for the last six years waiting for the trial and finally it is over. I hope the prosecution will take the cue from the judgment and not proceed any further," he said.

Co-lawyer Lavinia Kumaraendran said the unfairness stemmed from the prosecution not giving the documents for six years.

"More than 164 documents, although referred to in witness statements, have not been produced despite requests for almost two years."

She said that was the main ground for the motion; how could they put up a defence if the documents were not produced?

"Our client could not have a fair trial and it was an inordinate delay."

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