LIVE | Less than two months after the May 9 polls, history is set to be made yet again as Malaysia's former prime minister is hauled to court to face criminal charges.
The Pakatan Harapan administration has kept to its promise to bring Najib Abdul Razak to book over the 1MDB scandal with his arrest by the MACC yesterday.
All eyes now turn to the Jalan Duta Court Complex, in Kuala Lumpur, where Najib will be taken after spending the night in detention at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
He is expected to be slapped with several counts criminal breach of trust (CBT) linked to transactions involving SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former 1MDB subsidiary.
Najib will first be brought before Sessions Court judge Zainal Abidin Kamaruddin before facing High Court judge Azman Abdullah.
The prosecution will be led by recently appointed Attorney-General Tommy Thomas.
Follow our live blog as the Malaysiakini team brings you the news as it takes place.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Attorney-general Tommy Thomas, team arrives
- Najib arrives at court
- Police presence intensifies
- MACC officers seen inspecting courtroom
- Crowd begins to build as Najib is set to arrive later in the morning
AG and team next to arrive
8.42am: Sessions Court - Attorney-General Tommy Thomas arrives with his team of about 11 other prosecutors that includes Manoj Kurup, Mohd Hanafiah Zakaria and Mohd Ishak Yusof.
More of Najib's children - Najwa and her husband Daniyar, and Ashman - also enter the courtroom.
Besides senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, the others in Najib's defence team include Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin and Hasnal Rezua Merican.
Najib arrives
8.30am: Sessions Court - Former premier Najib Abdul Razak is escorted to the witness room.
Rosmah is also expected to be present as her husband is formally charged.
As expected, security inside the courtroom is tight as authorities heavily restrict entry into the room. Members of the press, meanwhile, are only allowed to occupy the last two benches of the courtroom.
One of Najib's children from his first marriage, believed to be Nazifuddin, is also seen in the courtroom.
8.18am: Court Complex, Jalan Duta - Najib arrives.
His arrival triggers press cries of 'Najib!' and 'Allahuakbar' from supporters, numbering around 50, waiting at outside the court complex and at the lobby.
Everyone, media and supporters alike, surge forward (picture, below), pushing each other to get a glimpse of Najib, dress in a blazer and a blue shirt, as he is led through the main doors.
Several folding ladders are overturned and one sole shoe is seen left behind.
A senior police officer instructs his officers to temporarily restrict entry into the main building.
Cries of 'Najib! Najib! Najib!
8.15am: Sessions Court- K Kumaraendran, the lawyer representing Rosmah Mansor, who is Najib's wife, arrives in court and enters into the witness room.
While earlier reports suggest that making Najib may face 10 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), it is learnt from sources that Najib may face only three CBT charges today.
There will be another one or two charges under the MACC Act 2009, while a further charge under the Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLA) 2001 may be laid upon him another day.
8.10am: Court Complex, Jalan Duta - Umno leader Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz, who leads a crowd of Najib supporters, gets into an argument with a team of police officers on duty.
"This is not a karaoke joint, this is the courts!" a police officer is heard telling Tun Faisal as he attempts to rally the crowd to sing 'Allah Selamatkan Kamu (Allah Saves You)' in anticipation of Najib's arrival.
Tun Faisal argues that there is no restriction to speak or sing outside of the court lobby, but police insist the crowd shift to outside of the main gate.
"Where is the arrest team? (You all are) Acting like a bunch of children," the officer further says.
From among the crowd, someone shouts at police "jangan provoke! (do not provoke us)".
MACC officers arrive
8am: Court Complex, Jalan Duta - Cries of "Najib!" echoes at the court complex as supporters continue to wait for the arrival of the former prime minister.
Sentul OCPD R Munusamy, however, orders them to leave the complex they are blocking vehicles from entering.
"Don't impede the roads. If you must sing, sing outside," Mususamy is heard saying as he reprimands the supporters (picture, below).
7.50am: Several Umno leaders arrive in a show of support towards their former leader, and former BN chairperson.
Among those spotted at the complex are Batu Pahat Umno division chief Puad Zarkashi (picture, below left in orange shirt), Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad and Umno Youth exco member Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris or better known as blogger Papagomo.
"We come to show support because he (Najib) is not only the former Umno president but also our former prime minister.
"We want to show that we will to continue to defend him," Puad told reporters.
Sentul OCPD Munusamy is also seen at the lobby along with more than a dozen other police officers.
7.35am: Sessions Court - Officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission are seen checking the court room at the Session Court.
One of them is seen a carrying a large suitcase and another bringing thick stack of documents.
Some plainclothes police officers are also seen accompanying them.
Meanwhile, senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is expected to lead Najib's defence team.
He was seen entering Najib's home in Jalan Langgak Duta in Kuala Lumpur last night, and left over an hour later.
The press waits
7.25am: Court Complex, Jalan Duta - Four red Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) trucks and a police truck enters the court complex.
Among those seen waiting includes several carrying placards with the words "RESPECT CIVIL RIGHTS #FREENAJIB"(picture, below) - several in English and others in Chinese letterings.
Steps leading into the lobby is packed with local and international media waiting for Najib's arrival.
Upstairs at the courtrooms, journalists are also waiting for the proceedings to begin.
7.05am: Court Complex, Jalan Duta -Photographers and camera crews are stationed at the lobby to wait for Najib's arrival when he is expected to immediately head to the Sessions Court room on the fourth floor right wing of the building.
Attorney-general Tommy Thomas, who is leading the prosecution team, is expected to hold a press conference after Najib is charged.
7am: A crowd of more than 50 people comprising media personnel and others are already gathered at the court complex, arriving before dawn even.
Police are taking no chances. There appears to more security this morning as sniffer dogs are also seen, being used to check vehicles entering the building from the main guard house. -Mkini
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