Najib, Arul Kanda to be jointly tried over alleged 1MDB audit tampering

The Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today granted the prosecution's request to have a joint trial for former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda over the alleged tampering of the company's audit report.

Sessions judge Azura Alwi made the ruling this morning upon hearing the request by prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, with Arul's defence counsel N Sivananthan saying that they have no objection to it.

Following the request, the charge against Arul for allegedly abetting Najib in the document tampering was re-read to him in front of Azura.

Arul said he understood the charge and requested for a trial, before Azura set the case to be mentioned on March 1.

Gopal, who is the lead prosecutor, also told the court that they would be applying for the case to be transferred to the High Court.

The case against Arul was initially heard before Sessions judge Rozina Ayob, who earlier this morning granted Gopal's request to have it transferred to Azura's court.

On Dec 12, Najib and Arul were charged separately at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court in relation to the alleged tampering of the 1MDB audit report.

Najib was charged with receiving gratification in the form of protection from ethical, civil or criminal actions against him as a public officer in relation to 1MDB, by ordering the alteration of the final audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The offence was allegedly committed by Najib between Feb 22 and 26, 2016, at the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya.

Arul, meanwhile, was charged with abetting Najib in the offence, on the same day and time. - Mkini