Shafee will fight prosecutions bid to amend Najib's audit tampering charge
The prosecution is seeking to amend the 1MDB audit report tampering charge against Najib Abdul Razak but the former premier's lead defence counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has objected against the application.
At the end of proceedings before the Kuala Lumpur High Court earlier this afternoon, lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram informed justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan that the prosecution seeks to amend the wording in the charges.
The prosecution is seeking to amend the 1MDB audit report tampering charge against Najib Abdul Razak but the former premier's lead defence counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has objected against the application.
At the end of proceedings before the Kuala Lumpur High Court earlier this afternoon, lead DPP Gopal Sri Ram informed justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan that the prosecution seeks to amend the wording in the charges.
Sri Ram said the proposed amendment is in relation to a “typographical error” in the charge.
Sri Ram is referring to the charges against Najib and co-accused former 1MDB president and CEO K Arul Kanda about the alleged tampering of the sovereign wealth fund's final audit report. Arul Kanda's charge is on abetting Najib in the alleged tampering.
Shafee had then stood up and objected to the application, adding that Najib's defence team had been relying on the initial unamended charge to prepare for the case.
"We will object to the (proposed) amendment of the charge as our preparation has been based on this charge. We will object strenuously," he said.
Zaini then set for 9.30am tomorrow to hear the application to amend the charges.
When met after proceedings, DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib said the prosecution seeks to amend the wording in the charges to make them "abundantly clear".
When asked on the specific aspect of the charges that the prosecution seeks an amendment to, Akram did not reveal the exact wording that they seek to amend.
He added that it will be made known in court tomorrow.
The proceedings before Zaini will resume around 9.30am tomorrow.
Najib is charged with using his position to order amendments to the 1MDB final audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee to avoid any action being taken against him.
Arul Kanda is charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments to the report.
Both of them were charged under Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act 2009, which specifies a jail term not exceeding 20 years, and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, on conviction.
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