Shafee raises Najib's posterior predicament in court

Lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah today sought to shorten the hearing times of his client Najib Abdul Razak's 1MDB graft trial.

Shafee cited several reasons, among which was the former premier having to sit on a hard surface for long periods.

"But more critical is that my client (had been) sitting on a pure plank... almost every day. 

"As soon as Yang Arif allowed for adjournment, he had to do some stretching, if not, it's going to get worse," he told Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

Shafee also cited documentation issues in his request to cut short the hearing.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam had similarly requested for today's hearing to end at 4.30pm.

Sequerah subsequently agreed to end the sitting at 4.45pm.

Shafee then requested that future hearings also end at 4.30pm, adding that he had raised a similar issue with Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali in Najib's SRC International graft trial.

However, Sequerah (photo) refused to budge and told Shafee his client could take breaks instead.

"I can give periodic breaks if required," he said.

Najib is standing trial for 25 counts of power abuse and money laundering involving a sum of RM2.28 billion originating from 1MDB.

On Tuesday, Shafee also raised the issue of Najib's health with the press.

"You guys are in the (gallery). You've got a layer of cushion... Even then I'm told by (a senior journalist) that he has (posterior) pains because it is still quite hard.

"Imagine, (the accused has to) sit down there on a plank for hours... I invite you to sit there for just one hour.

"As young as you are, your buttocks are more fleshy than Najib's. Let's see if you can handle it," he had said. -Mkini