KUALA LUMPUR: The trial of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak involving RM2.28bil of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds will be the first high-profile hearing to resume in open court this May 13.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said all parties, including Najib, were expected to be present before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on the day.
“As of now, we have been instructed to come to court on May 13. The case will be called up in open court, ” he said when contacted.
Ahmad also said the court has issued guidelines for the proceedings to take place in open court and these include social distancing.
Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah is expected to continue with the cross-examination of the ninth prosecution witness, former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, when the hearing resumes.
On Sunday (May 3), the judiciary said in a statement that cases set for an open court hearing will begin in stages from May 13.
According to a statement issued by the corporate communications unit of the Federal Court Chief Registrar's Office (PKPMP), Chief Justice Tan Sri Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat has also ordered a number of court services to begin operating Monday (May 4).
Among the services set to resume are the Registry, One-Stop Counter, Commissioner for Oaths Counter, Power of Attorney Counter, e-Filing Service Bureau Counter, and the Management and Finance Division at the Responsibility Centre and Cost Centre.
On May 1, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced a conditional movement control order (MCO) that saw several sectors resuming operations today (May 4).
Najib, 67, is facing four charges of abusing his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.28bil in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
The 1MDB trial was last heard in court before Justice Sequerah on March 12, just days before the first phase of the MCO was imposed on March 18, which effectively saw the shutdown of court complexes nationwide.
During the shutdown, the courts only heard fresh charges, miscellaneous criminal applications, and revisions of lower court decisions to ensure continuous access to justice.
Meanwhile, remand proceedings still continued but moved from the Magistrates’ Courts to police stations to enable social distancing. - Star
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