Read this in The Manila Times digital edition.
LIMASSOL, Cyprus — Politics and its twists and turns never cease to amaze elites and normal folks alike, in the Philippines as in Malaysia. Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was recently required by a Malaysian court to put up a defense against criminal charges presented against him by the public prosecutor, as the court determined that the latter had mounted a prima facie case against Najib in yet another series of criminal cases related to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal. Not surprisingly, this latest development in the long-dragging 1MDB saga sparked considerable public discussion in Malaysia and beyond.
The legal phrase "prima facie," derived from Latin, translates to "on the face of it" and is used to indicate that the judge has initially found the charges and evidence presented by the prosecution (with allowance for questioning and cross-examination by the defense) to be credible. This means the defendant must now respond to these charges, point out any doubts, and attempt to overturn them.
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