KUALA LUMPUR: The atmosphere outside the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex turned sombre today after the court dismissed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak‘s bid for house arrest.
Nearly 200 of his supporters who had gathered since early morning fell silent as the verdict was announced, with some seen weeping and expressing disappointment.
Others were seen embracing one another while attempting to console friends who were overcome with emotion.
While some supporters began to disperse, a large number remained outside the court complex awaiting further developments.
Suzzalina Hassan, 43, who travelled from Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan, expressed her disappointment over the ruling.
“I was willing to leave my work in Lenggeng and come here just to see and hear the decision for myself,” she said while in tears.
Another supporter, Asmawati Md Hassan, 50, said she was among those who arrived from Pekan, Pahang, in seven buses carrying Umno members and Najib supporters.
“We are all very frustrated and deeply disappointed, she said.”
Earlier, High Court judge Alice Loke dismissed the former prime minister’s judicial review application to enforce a royal addendum allowing him to complete his sentence at home.
The former Umno president will continue serving his jail sentence for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd at Kajang Prison.
Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said the defence would appeal against the ruling.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
