Day 9: Proceedings to resume tomorrow, Sri Ram attending separate matter

The criminal trial of ex-premier Najib Abdul Razak and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy involving the alleged tampering with 1MDB's final audit report enters its ninth day today at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.

Summary of Najib and Arul's case

Najib is facing a charge of tampering with 1Malaysia Development Bhd's (1MDB) final audit report. He is being tried together with 1MDB former chief executive officer (CEO) Arul Kanda Kandasamy who is accused of abettment.

• Najib is facing one corruption charge
• Arul is accused of abetting Najib in the office
• Click to view information on judge, prosecution and defence teams

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1pm - Thank you for following our live report today.

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Proceedings postponed to tomorrow

12.58pm - The afternoon proceedings of Najib Abdul Razak and Arul Kanda Kandasamy's 1MDB audit tampering trial has been vacated.

Proceedings will resume around 2pm tomorrow instead.

This is confirmed today by DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib, who says that lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram is still attending a separate court matter at the Palace of Justice.

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Former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy’s defence team has opted not to cross-examine any prosecution witnesses beginning on the ninth day of his and former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s audit tampering trial.

Yesterday, Arul Kanda’s lead defence counsel N Sivananthan informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court of his client’s decision in order to avoid compromising the accused’s position as a prosecution witness.

On the first day of the trial on Nov 18, lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram, through the prosecution’s opening statement, revealed that they would be calling Arul Kanda to testify against co-accused Najib in the case involving alleged tampering of the 1MDB final audit report in early 2016.

When proceedings before Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan resumes at 2pm this afternoon, only Najib’s defence team, led by veteran lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, will conduct cross-examination of the witnesses that have testified for the prosecution in the course of the hearing.

Among these witnesses are former auditor-general Ambrin Buang, former chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa, retired National Audit Department officer Saadatul Nafisah Bashir Ahmad, and Nor Salwani Muhammad, who was a coordinator for the special National Audit Department (NAD) team into 1MDB. - Mkini