The trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak relating to RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds is set to commence at 9am until 3.30pm during Ramadan, which will start next week.

Normally, the trial day ends at around 5pm.

High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali made the decision after Attorney-General Tommy Thomas, who leads the prosecution team, made a request to the court to set a timing for the hearing during the fasting month.

The judge also said that within that period, the court would have a half-hour break for the non-Muslims to have lunch.

Earlier, Thomas suggested to the court to have the hearing start from 9 am until 3pm to allow the fasting Muslims to go home early and prepare food for breaking fast.

Lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, representing Najib, also proposed for the trial to start at 9 am and asked the court to set a 30-minute or 45-minute break to allow the non-Muslims to have their lunch and also for the Muslims to perform Zohor prayers.

In another issue, Thomas had requested for the SRC case to take over the 1MDB trial’s dates, which will begin on May 14.

Thomas said the prosecution would write a letter to High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah who will hear the 1MDB trial, but it was subjected to Mohd Nazlan’s time.

Muhammad Shafee did not object to the request as he, too, had wanted the 1MDB case to begin in September.

Najib’s SRC trial was set for April 3 to May 10, with other dates to be fixed later.

On April 5, Justice Sequerah fixed 14 days beginning May 14, 15 and 17, May 28, 29 and 31 and June 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 as well as on June 18, 20 and 21 for Najib’s 1MDB case trial.

Justice Mohd Nazlan said he had no problem continuing the trial on the particular dates as it involved matters of public interest.

Thomas said the prosecution would meet Justice Sequerah tomorrow for further direction.

- Bernama