Najib Abdul Razak failed in his bid to postpone today's scheduled 1MDB final audit report tampering trial against him and co-accused Arul Kanda Kandasamy, the sovereign wealth fund's former CEO.
High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan dismissed the application for postponement by the former prime minister and finance minister during open court proceedings in Kuala Lumpur this morning, as Najib (above) and Arul Kanda looked on from the dock.
Last Friday, the court heard a submission from Najib's defence that the postponement is needed to allow the legal team to prepare the accused to take the stand as a witness in the defence stage of his separate RM42 million SRC International trial, which is set to begin on Dec 3.
However, the postponement application received objections from both co-accused Arul Kanda and the prosecution.
With the court today having denied the postponement application, Najib and Arul Kanda's (below) 1MDB final audit report tampering case trial is expected to begin today.
This is in line with Zaini's reminder to both parties during Friday's proceedings, whereby the full hearing will commence today in the event that the court throws out the postponement bid.
Najib was charged with ordering the tampering of the 1MDB final audit report in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Dec 12 last year.
Najib claimed trial to 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 is presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The alleged offence was committed by Najib between Feb 22 and 26, 2016, at the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya.
He was charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009. Under Section 24 of the same Act, Najib stands to face a maximum of 20 years’ jail or a fine or RM10,000 if convicted.
On the same day (Dec 12, 2018) before a separate Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court, Arul Kanda claimed trial to abetting Najib in committing the offence on the same day and time.
On Jan 4 this year, the Sessions Court allowed the prosecution’s application for the joint hearing of Najib and Arul Kanda’s cases.
Then, on March 14 this year, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur allowed the duo’s case to be transferred to it from the lower court. - Mkini
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