Najib’s 1MDB trial put off again due to lawyer’s contact with Covid-19 case

 

Najib’s 1MDB trial was last heard on May 27 and has been postpone several times due to the movement control order. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The trial of former prime minister Najib Razak’s 1MDB case will resume at the High Court here on Aug 18, instead of tomorrow.

Lawyer Nur Syahirah Hanapiah said the court had allowed an application by the defence to vacate tomorrow and Thursday’s proceedings for a reason.

“We wrote to the court with a reason yesterday and the adjournment was granted,” she said.

Although she did not reveal the reason, lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram said the proceeding was adjourned due to a lawyer in Najib’s legal team having had close contact with a person who tested positive for Covid-19.

“It is unsafe for others to take part in the trial,” he told FMT.

The case was last heard on May 27 and had been postpone several times due to the movement control order (MCO).

Lawyer Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed is expected to continue cross-examining the 10th prosecution witness, former 1MDB chief executive officer Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, 49, when the trial resumes.

Najib, 67, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The case, dubbed the trial of the century, started on Aug 28, 2019. - FMT