The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters its 52nd day today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- 'Jho Low, Nik Faisal promised to assist MACC probe in 2015'
- MACC couldn't find Jho Low's parents, says officer
- Nik Faisal left Malaysia two days before GE14 - witness
'Jho Low, Nik Faisal promised to assist MACC probe in 2015'
2.30pm - The court hears from MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussain that investigators did not impose bail bonds on 1MDB-linked businessperson Low Taek Jho and former SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil, as they had promised to cooperate with authorities in 2015.
Rosli testifies under examination-in-chief by DPP Ishak Mohd Yusoff that MACC had recorded statements from Nik Faisal twice in Oct 2015.
Both statements were taken in Jakarta, Indonesia.
According to Rosli, MACC officers had also recorded a statement from Low on Nov 27, 2015 in Abu Dhabi.
"Because both of them had their statements recorded and they gave their commitment, we were confident that they would return to Malaysia to co-operate in this trial.
"For this reason, MACC did not impose bail bonds on them," he says.
The court then hears from Rosli that, on May 14 last year, MACC had asked the Immigration Department to place Nik Faisal and Low on a travel blacklist alongside four others.
MACC couldn’t find Jho Low's parents, says officer
2.25pm - MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussain testifies that the anti-graft agency failed to locate fugitive businessperson Low Taek Jho's parents at a Penang residence in 2015.
He says this during examination-in-chief by DPP Ishak Mohd Yusoff.
"My officers tried to locate Jho Low in Penang, at the house address, (but we) did not find him there.
"Efforts to locate his mother and father were also not successful.
"Immigration checks showed that Jho Low had been out of the country since May 29, 2015, and has never returned," the 57th witness says.
Nik Faisal left M'sia two days before GE14 - witness
2.19pm - Former SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil left the country two days before polling day for Malaysia's 14th general election last year, the court hears.
According to MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussain, this was based on the anti-graft agency’s findings when it tried to locate him.
Rosli testifies that checks also found that 1MDB-linked businessperson Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, had left the country on May 29, 2015.
Both of them had not returned to Malaysia since, he says.
2.15pm - Najib Abdul Razak enters the dock as proceedings begin.
2.07pm - Najib enters the court and takes a seat in the front row of the public gallery to await the start of proceedings.
Earlier this morning, the former prime minister attended a Federal Court hearing regarding his last-ditch effort to postpone his RM2.28 billion 1MDB trial.
However, the apex court unanimously rejected his bid today, paving the way for the trial to commence on Aug 19.
The 1MDB trial will be heard before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
The prosecution stage of Najib Abdul Razak’s RM42 million SRC International graft trial inches closer to the finishing line with MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussain (above) expected to resume his testimony today.
However, the 52nd day of the former prime minister’s trial for abuse of power, corruption and money-laundering will only resume at 2pm this afternoon.
Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali last week allowed proceedings to start later today because Najib and his defence team needed to attend a Federal Court hearing held earlier this morning.
At the apex court, both the prosecution and defence made a last-ditch effort to postpone Najib’s RM2.28 billion 1MDB trial which is currently scheduled to begin before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Aug 19.
Both parties contended the postponement was necessary because there is a high likelihood the SRC International trial will not end even by next week, risking a clash with the 1MDB hearing.
- Mkini
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