Prosecution objects 'vigorously' to Najib's bid to delay SRC trial

The prosecution team in former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's SRC International trial has sent a letter today to High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali expressing its “vigorous objection” to the defence’s request to postpone the trial.

The trial was initially scheduled to be held on Feb 12.

In the letter sighted by Malaysiakini, which was signed by the head of the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ prosecution division Manoj Kurup, the prosecution said the defence's application sought an indefinite postponement of the trial.

According to the letter addressed to Justice Mohd Nazlan and dated today, the defence led by lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had wanted the February trial to be postponed pending its appeals on three interlocutory applications.

These appeals concern Sulaiman Abdullah's appointment by the government as lead prosecutor; the defence's application for the discovery of further documents and statements; and the defence’s application for a gag order to be issued to potential witnesses and the media.

Justice Mohd Nazlan had previously dismissed all three applications, resulting in Najib filing an appeal with the Court of Appeal.

The judge had previously refused to grant a stay of proceedings pending appeal on his three rulings.

Manoj, in his letter to the judge, said that Shafee's application to seek an indefinite stay is "frivolous" as the prosecution has written a letter dated Jan 14 to Court of Appeal president (Ahmad Ma'arop) that the application (if allowed) would result in an unreasonable delay of the trial.

He pointed out that when Najib was charged on July 4, 2018, the defence had indicated that their free dates were February and March 2019. 

This was despite the prosecution wanting to have the trial begin in November 2018, which was met with strong objections from Shafee.

"The defence has (had) seven months from July to prepare its defence and the prosecution voices strong objection to a postponement," the letter by Manoj states.

Shafee sought the postponement and that the appeal was necessary as part of his client's defence.

Najib claimed trial to three criminal breach of trust and abuse of power charges on July 4. On Aug 8, the four charges were amended and three new money laundering charges were added to the case with regard to the RM42 million he allegedly received from SRC International. -Mkini