KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 5): The 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial involving ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been postponed or vacated till Oct 19, 2020 as he is under voluntary self-quarantine at home after he returned from campaigning at the state election in Sabah, which has seen an increase in Covid-19 infections.

High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah had set Oct 19 as the next trial date after Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the court today about the former premier's current situation.

The Sabah state election was held on Sept 26. 

Muhammad Shafee told Justice Sequerah that Najib, who had returned from Sabah on Sept 27, is undergoing voluntary quarantine at home for 14 days. 

The lawyer said Najib’s quarantine period will end next Monday (Oct 12).

Explaining the court’s decision to postpone the trial, Justice Sequerah said: “In the light of the current situation, it’s a bit of a risk. It could be nothing, but the symptoms can manifest on the 13th day.”

The judge subsequently asked Muhammad Shafee if Najib was granted a home surveillance order but the lawyer said his client was not granted one. 

In the 1MDB-Tanore trial, Najib is facing four counts of abuse of power for using his position as the then prime minister, finance minister and 1MDB board of advisers chairman to receive gratification worth RM2.28 billion. He also faces 21 counts of money laundering involving over RM4.3 billion.

The Edge is covering the trial live here.

Users of The Edge Markets app may tap here to access the live report.