KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 4): Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah, the lead defence counsel for Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the embattled former prime minister's graft trial, has expressed hope that 1MDB fiasco mastermind Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, turns up to give evidence in court.

Speaking to reporters after Najib's case management at the High Court today, Shafee said bringing Low in as witness will help to establish the truth in the case.

"I don't know what he will say but I hope that he turns up," said Shafee. "Because [then] we can find out the truth."

"There are a lot of documents [involved] but you don't have human beings… [who] can give meanings and context to the documents.

"So if we have witnesses, I suppose it will be good for the prosecution and the defence, I am sure of that," he added.

When asked if the defence would also call Low in to the witness stand if he does arrive, Shafeee said: "It cannot be avoided… I would love to cross-examine him."

Low is regarded as the central figure in the misappropriation of monies in state-owned fund IMDB or 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Najib was present at today's case management over 32 charges against him relating to misappropriation of over RM2 billion in 1MDB and RM42 million in the fund's former subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd.

The case management has been postponed to Oct 31.