The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged abuse of power and money laundering of 1MDB funds enters its 34th day today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
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11.30am - Thank you for following our live report today.
10.15am - Due to both the ninth key prosecution witness Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah being on medical leave, the Kuala Lumpur High Court postpones Najib Abdul Razak's RM2.28 billion 1MDB trial for today and tomorrow.
Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah allows the postponement application by both lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram and Najib's defence counsel Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammad.
Sri Ram informs the judge that former 1MDB CEO Shahrol is still on MC today.
Wan Aizuddin then tells the court that Shafee (above) is on MC from today until Nov 14.
The lawyer says that Shafee was given the MC yesterday when the latter visited a doctor for a medical examination and was diagnosed with a throat infection.
"The senior counsel (Shafee) was still contemplating on coming (to court) today, but this morning he found that he was too ill to attend," Wan Aizuddin says.
Sequerah then allows for today's trial and tomorrow to be vacated.
The judge also set Dec 13 for case management to finalise the RM2.28 billion 1MDB case trial dates for early next year, in order to ensure they do not clash with the separate defence stage of Najib's RM42 million SRC International case.
Najib's RM2.28 billion 1MDB trial is tentatively set to run from 6 to 9 Jan next year, subject to his ongoing RM42 million SRC International trial.
The tentative 1MDB trial dates are from January to April next year.
9.59am - Najib Abdul Razak enters the dock as proceedings begin.
9.55am - Lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram, other members of the prosecution team, and members of Najib Abdul Razak's defence team are seen exiting the chambers of High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
The accused's lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is still not seen in court.
9.45am - Lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram, other DPPs and some members of Najib Abdul Razak's (above) defence team are seen entering the chambers of High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
The former prime minister's lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is not seen in court.
9.30am - Accused Najib Abdul Razak enters the court and takes a seat at the front row of the public gallery to await proceedings to begin.
Following early adjournment of proceedings two days ago, the 34th day of Najib Abdul Razak’s RM2.28 billion 1MDB trial will resume this morning.
On Monday, the trial before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah was allowed to adjourn earlier - at around 12.40pm - due to the 9th prosecution witness, Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, not feeling well to continue with his testimony.
The judge also allowed the trial to resume today instead of yesterday due to Shahrol’s condition.
Incidentally earlier on Monday, the 1MDB trial also had a brief break during morning proceedings to allow former prime minister Najib and his defence team to attend a separate High Court matter.
That separate High Court matter was for his RM42 million SRC International case, in which he was ordered to enter his defence to seven related charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
When the 1MDB trial before Sequerah resumes around 9.30am this morning, Shahrol is expected to continue to be cross-examined by Najib’s lead defence counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.
Shahrol has been on the witness stand for 22 days, which is about one-third of the hearing so far. He has been cross-examined by the defence for 15 days. - Mkini
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