This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 18, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney- General’s Chambers (AGC) has been asked to figure out the next course of action with regard to three additional money laundering charges involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds faced by former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib, 66, is currently on trial on seven charges relating to SRC funds totalling RM42 million. He claimed trial to a charge of abuse of power and three counts of criminal breach of trust on July 4 last year, and to three counts of money laundering on Aug 8.

On Feb 8, Najib was slapped with three more money laundering charges involving RM27 million of SRC funds.

Initially, the prosecution was seeking to have a joint trial for the earlier seven charges and the later three charges as they involve the same subject matter.

However, the trial for the seven charges commenced on April 3, before the three additional charges could be transferred to the High Court. High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan told the prosecution yesterday that the AGC needs to decide on the next course of action for the three additional charges.

The case mention for the three charges came up for the second time before Justice Mohamed Zaini yesterday. He fixed May 17 for further mention to allow the prosecution to serve more documents to the defence.

“I believe the prosecution has ample time to decide on the next course of action”, he said.

Najib, 66, made his appearance before Justice Mohamed Zaini first before heading to another High Court for the ongoing SRC trial.

Under the three additional charges, Najib is accused of indulging in money laundering by accepting a total of RM27 million, which were proceeds from unlawful activities, through three AmPrivate Banking accounts.