Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 15): The High Court here has adjourned the trial of Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore case, pending the outcome of the former prime minister’s final appeal against charges related to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Najib’s lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has requested from High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah an adjournment of at least two weeks because the final appeal in the SRC trial in the Federal Court is scheduled to take place until Aug 26.

Shafee said if both of Najib’s applications with the apex court — for a motion amendment and to adduce new evidence — are approved, the adjournment could take longer than two weeks.

The judge allowed the adjournment, but asked the senior lawyer to keep the court posted on developments of the appeal at the Palace of Justice.

“Just update me if, for some unlikely reasons, the Federal Court is not able to proceed,” said Sequerah.

Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Ahmad Akram Gharib also updated the court that both the prosecution and defence had agreed on another eight dates in January and February next year to replace the eight days of proceedings lost for making way for the SRC appeal in the Federal Court.

These dates are Jan 16-19, Jan 30-31 and Feb 2-3 in 2023.

The judge allowed the proceedings to be held on these dates, but also asked both parties to fix additional dates for the 1MDB-Tanore trial in January to make up for time lost previously.

Once the 1MDB-Tanore trial is able to proceed, Sequerah said, he will provide a one-day gap for the prosecution to prepare witnesses to arrange their affairs before attending proceedings.

“Because we are already losing so many days, I can give one-day notice to organise their (witnesses') affairs [for them] to be present,” the judge told the DPP, who requested at least two to three days' prior notice for witnesses to attend the proceedings.

In the 1MDB-Tanore trial, Najib is charged with four counts of abuse of power in enriching himself with RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds, and 21 counts of money laundering of the same amount. He could face a fine and up to 20 years’ imprisonment if convicted.

Edited BySurin Murugiah
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