KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 28): The RM2.28 billion 1Malaysia Development Bhd or the Tanore trial involving former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is expected to kick off today before High Court judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
The trial today comes after the prosecution had closed its case in the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial yesterday.
Former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who is leading the prosecution, is expected to make the opening statement to the case.
Despite the Court of Appeal decision on Monday where Najib and his lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is allowed to have merits of their challenge in Sri Ram's appointment heard at another High Court, the prosecution led by the former top judge would continue with the case today.
There is a possibility of an argument to start the case because of this.
Six witnesses are expected to testify today and tomorrow, and they are probably formal witnesses who do not have their witness statements made, and they will deliver oral testimony on Najib's position in the former Barisan Nasional government and Parliament, which lost in the May 9 general election last year.
A total of 60 witnesses, comprising local and foreign witnesses, are expected to be summoned by the prosecution in the case.
Unlike the SRC case where the transactions occured locally, the 1MDB matters occured abroad and hence the calling of the foreign witnesses.
Tomorrow, besides the six witnesses, there is a possibility that witnesses who had their witness statements made would come to court.
Najib, formerly Umno president, is facing four charges of abuse of power and 21 for money laundering of the RM2.28 billion, which is by far the largest amount of graft charged.
Senior lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik is holding a watching brief for financial institution Goldman Sachs.