KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 16): The 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial resumed on Thursday (Dec 16) as Datuk Seri Najib Razak was allowed to attend proceedings despite his MySejahtera status still showing yellow.
The yellow status indicates that Najib had casual contact with a Covid-19 positive case.
Najib was then seen sitting at the accused dock when the trial began before Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
Najib’s counsel Datuk Hariharan Tara Singh then informed the judge that Najib’s attendance for the trial was not in breach of any government regulations and judicial rules.
“We wish to state on record that he (Najib) is not in breach of government regulation and court direction,” the lawyer said.
Lawyers in the case also confirmed that Najib’s MySejahtera status was still listed as yellow.
Najib is the only accused in the case where he is charged with 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion and four counts of abuse of power.
Having resumed proceedings despite Najib’s MySejahtera issues, the trial commenced at approximately 10.40am with former 1MDB director Tan Sri Ismee Ismail taking the stand to begin his cross-examination by Hariharan.
However, the trial was short-lived as Ismee was feeling unwell after an hour and a half of cross-examination. He told Justice Sequerah that he was on painkillers due to a ligament issue.
"When I was called today, I was quite reluctant to come, but I did anyway over a sense of responsibility. But I don't think I can go on," Ismee said.
"What medication did you take," asked the judge.
"I took painkillers and some other medication," said Ismee.
Justice Sequerah then asked him to take a short break and resume proceedings after 2.30pm, but Ismee said he could not go on and told the judge that he wanted to be in “good form” to testify.
"I suppose if we don't have any alternative, we will have to call it off," said Justice Sequerah.
Trial dates till December 2022
Justice Sequerah then set dates for the trial until December next year as he said that the trial has “lost a lot of time”.
According to the court's e-filing system, dates for the trial had only been set until Oct 6, 2022.
Justice Sequerah then added the following dates: Oct 11 to 13 and 17 to 20, Nov 7 to 10, 14 to 17 and 21 to 25, and Dec 5 to 8 and 12 to 15.
The trial will resume on Jan 5, 2022 with Ismee still on the stand.
The Edge is covering the trial live here.
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