Prosecution wants Najib's case transferred to Putrajaya

The prosecutor for former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering cases wants the trial to be heard at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.

Senior lawyer and appointed prosecutor Sulaiman Abdullah told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur that it is for security reasons and to give the public better access to the trial as the Putrajaya courts are bigger.

Sulaiman told Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali that the prosecution will write to Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Zaharah Ibrahim for this purpose.

Speaking to reporters later, Sulaiman said if the court allows the trial to be held there, it would be easier as most of the (prosecution) witnesses are in Putrajaya and the documents are there.

"Security can be properly managed and we can give the public greater access as the court is bigger," he said.

The senior lawyer told reporters that it would be easier to have the trial in Putrajaya, as there would be less traffic congestion.

The defence team led by Shafee said they will deal with the situation once the formal application is made.

However, when talking to reporters outside the court complex, Shafee questioned the move to have the trial in Putrajaya since there had been no problems previously when the trial was being conducted in Kuala Lumpur.

He asked why there was the need to make the case a media showcase.

The former premier is faced with three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering and one count of abuse of power, all charged in relation to the RM42 million which was deposited into his personal accounts from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB. - Mkini