I cannot direct media on what to write, judge says over 1MDB trial

 

1MDB TRIAL | A Kuala Lumpur High Court judge remarked that he cannot direct journalists on what manner they can report the ongoing RM2.27 billion 1MDB corruption trial against former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Collin Lawrence Sequerah instead advised the media to include the main gist of what transpired during the criminal trial, including any objections raised by the accused's defence team over the prosecution witnesses' testimonies.

The judge was responding to lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah's complaint that an online news portal allegedly reported in a “jaundiced” and biased manner the testimony of the 49th prosecution witness - MACC investigating officer Nur Aida Arifin.

Shafee claimed that the article did not state any of the defence team's objections raised in court over Aida's testimony, and he sought a gag order in relation to media reports over her disputed testimony.

The lawyer explained that this was because there were many parts of the witness' testimony that the defence team claimed were hearsay and mere opinion.

When Sequerah sought the prosecution's response over Shafee's bid, the deputy public prosecutor indicated he had nothing to say on the matter.

Muhammad Shafee Abdullah

"I cannot direct reports on what manner they are to report, that is their prerogative.

"What I can say instead is that regarding what transpires in the trial, perhaps the reporting ought to state these things were said (by prosecution witnesses) but that objections (by Najib's lawyers) were taken (recorded by court) on grounds of hearsay," Sequerah advised the media.

Proceedings before Sequerah resumes on Friday.

Najib is on trial over four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.27 billion from 1MDB, a sovereign wealth fund fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

For the four abuse of power charges, the former Pekan MP is alleged to have 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, Najib is purported to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013. - Mkini