The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters its 25th day today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Not too fast, DPP tells defence to go slow with Ismee
- Ismee's transcripts: Defence to decide later on next course of action
Not too fast, DPP tells defence to go slow with Ismee
9.30am - DPP V Sithambaram interjects cross-examination on witness Ismee Ismail, saying that defence lawyer Harvinderjit Singh was going too fast with his questions.
Sithambaram says that Harvinderjit should allow Ismee, who is former chairperson of SRC International, to understand questions thrown at him properly and time to answer.
This takes place when Ismee was seen having hard time grasping questions he is being bombarded with by Harvinderjit regarding decision-making process by SRC International board of directors in 2011.
At one point, Ismee is heard asking Harvinderjit to repeat and rephrase his question, which delved into whether the board had independence in making a decision on their own.
Ismee's transcripts: Defence to decide later on next course of action
9.15am - Najib Abdul Razak's defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh informs the court that the defence will make a decision later on their next course of action, following perusal of former SRC International's chairperson Ismee Ismail's court transcripts.
"We have looked at the transcripts over the past four days (of trial). We will deal (with it by making a decision) in due course," the lawyer informs High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.
Yesterday, the court allowed the defence's application to adjourn the trial to today in order to check for alleged material contradiction in Ismee's oral evidence in court since Monday.
Najib enters dock as trial gets underway
9.10am - Najib Abdul Razak enters the dock as proceedings begin.
Najib's lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah enters court a short while later.
Former SRC International chairperson Ismee Ismail takes the stand.
9.07am - Accused Najib Abdul Razak enters court and takes a seat in the front row of the public gallery to await proceedings to begin.
Also seen in court is his defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh and other members of the defence team, as well as Attorney General Tommy Thomas and other DPPs.
8.25am - The alleged contradiction in former SRC International chairperson Ismee Ismail’s testimony about whether the company’s board of directors (BOD) acted for its advisor emeritus Najib Abdul Razak or its shareholder is at the forefront of the 25th day of the former prime minister’s RM42 million SRC International trial.
When proceedings before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali begins at 9am today, the defence team will inform the court about their next course of action after having gone through the 39th witness’ complete court transcript since the witness took the stand on Monday this week.
Yesterday around midday, Najib’s lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had sought a sudden adjournment of trial to this morning to allow the defence to peruse Ismee’s court transcript to check for any contradiction in the witness’ testimony.
Nazlan had allowed the adjournment bid, with Shafee saying that the defence needed the rest of yesterday “afternoon and night” to go through the court transcripts.
DPP V Sithambaram said the prosecution has no objection to the application, following Ismee’s oral evidence yesterday which allegedly contradicted what was stated in his witness statement filed earlier in court.
Yesterday, following a contentious cross-examination by Najib’s defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh, Ismee testified that SRC International’s BOD acted based on its shareholder’s resolution.
According to his witness statement in writing which he read out in court on Monday, the company’s BOD took serious consideration and implement the advice of its advisor emeritus Najib. He added that Najib was the sole shareholder who had control over SRC International.
This turn of events led to Harvinderjit seeking a brief stand down of proceedings, which was allowed by Nazlan. Then members of the defence and prosecution were seen trooping into the judge’s chambers to argue over the issue.
Once they re-emerged from the chambers and proceedings reconvened, Shafee made the adjournment application which Nazlan allowed.
Over the course of proceedings since Monday, Ismee and Harvinderjit at times clashed over several issues, among them being the extent of Najib’s influence over SRC International's financial management and whether its board required then finance minister Najib's approval for the company’s transaction.
SRC International was a subsidiary of 1MDB when incorporated in January 2011. However, the company was fully acquired by the Minister of Finance Incorporated in early 2012.
The company had obtained a total RM4 billion in loans from Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP), with the first RM2 billion tranche received in August 2011 and the second RM2 billion tranche in March 2012. - Mkini
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