Najib still having diarrhoea, 1MDB trial vacated

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has again postponed Najib Abdul Razak’s RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial today as the former prime minister is still down with diarrhoea.

Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) clinical specialist Dr Mohd Fadhli Zil Ikram Karim told trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that the accused this morning was complaining of suffering from loose stool.

Fadhli explained that upon his examination of the former finance minister around 7.20am today found the accused still suffering from active diarrhoea.

The doctor said Najib, 69, showed signs of high risk of dehydration and risk of low blood pressure, adding that they had to keep the accused warded at HKL with an intravenous drip to keep him hydrated as well as monitor him constantly.

“In my expert opinion, he (Najib) is unfit to go to court to attend court as there is a risk of dehydration and (Najib needs) regular monitoring at the hospital,” Fadhli said, adding that he was the one who issued the MC to Najib not only for today but also two days ago.

The trial before Sequerah will resume on June 21. The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib.

On May 9, the criminal court postponed the trial that day due to the former Pekan MP being on two-day MC due to diarrhoea.

Kajang Prison medical officer Dr Mohd Hafiz Mohd Hoshni told the court then that Najib was referred to HKL after having a stomach ache and defecating four times.

The medical officer also explained that after taking charcoal tablets, the accused was still feeling the same and had mild dehydration and a slight fever with a temperature of 37.8 degrees.

Money laundering charges

Najib is facing four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion from 1MDB.

For the four abuse of power charges, he allegedly committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Bhd’s Jalan Raja Chulan branch in Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.

On the 21 money laundering counts, the accused is alleged to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

1MDB was a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

Najib had also served as the chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisors. - Mkini