KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): The case management for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's two cases involving misappropriation of funds linked to 1MDB and its former unit SRC International Sdn Bhd have been extended to Nov 29. 

This was decided by High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, after he allowed Najib’s application for one of the cases, comprising 25 charges related to the the transfer of RM2.3 billion through the ex-premier's personal account, to be transferred from the Sessions Court to the High Court.

In allowing the transfer, Justice Nazlan said he took into consideration the high public interest revolving the case and the high value involved, as well as the fact that the other case — comprising seven charges involving RM42 million in SRC International — has also been transferred to the High Court from the Sessions Court previously. 

On a related matter, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim has yet to give a decision on the request by the prosecution, led by former Malaysian Bar president Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah, for the two cases to be heard in Putrajaya instead of Kuala Lumpur. 

Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the lead defence counsel for Najib, told the High Court today that he had submitted a letter to Zaharah opposing Sulaiman’s request. 

Zaharah is not restricted to any timeline to decide on the matter, a lawyer said.

On another matter, Justice Nazlan allowed Muhammad Shafee to file an application to compel Sulaiman to show the court and the defence team the fiat appointing him as a deputy public prosecutor, that was issued to him by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, by Nov 5. 

Sulaiman, meanwhile, confirmed that the prosecution and defence met at a pre-trial conference on Oct 29, and both are in the midst of finalising documents in relation to the cases. 

As the defence has obtained all documents from the prosecution to fulfill Section 51(A) of the Criminal Procedure Code, Muhammad Shafee is now due to pass to the prosecution, the defence statement and copies of documents that the defence intends to rely on, under Section 62 of the MACC Act. The provision requires the defense to provide a defense statement prior to a trial. 

Justice Nazlan instructed the prosecution and defence to submit their written submissions each, summarizing relevant facts, laws and proposed analyses, by Nov 27, two days before the next case management. 

Najib, 65, was in court today, accompanied by his spouse Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, while being surrounded by police escorts and his supporters.

Outside the court, Muhammad Shafee said he supported a suggestion by reporters that Najib's trials be aired live on television. 

“I think it is a good idea. Let the people know what the trial is all about,” he said.