Najib fails to be excused from 1MDB trial to visit flood-hit Pahang
1MDB TRIAL | Najib Abdul Razak’s legal team applied for his RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial to be taken off tomorrow so that the Pekan MP could visit flood-hit Pahang.
However, the Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed the application and reiterated that the former prime minister’s trial will proceed tomorrow...
1MDB TRIAL | Najib Abdul Razak’s legal team applied for his RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial to be taken off tomorrow so that the Pekan MP could visit flood-hit Pahang.
However, the Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed the application and reiterated that the former prime minister’s trial will proceed tomorrow.
Earlier at the beginning of proceedings today, lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah made the application to postpone tomorrow’s trial.
“There is a flood engulfing the east coast, Pahang. He is the MP there.
“It (flood) is one of the worst and it (flood waters) is rising. As reported by the news, it has gone to a level that is very serious.
“If he does not go, it would be a very bad reflection on him, and also affect what people would say as he has not done his duty as MP to his constituents (Pekan), to reduce pain and suffering of the people,” Shafee said.
The lawyer said that his client would be able to attend the trial on Thursday if the trial for tomorrow is vacated.
However, judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah dismissed the postponement application.
“It is a new year. This (1MDB trial) has to move, so the application by your client is denied, the case has to proceed (tomorrow),” the judge ruled as Najib looked on from the dock.
After the dismissal of the application, 10th prosecution witness and former 1MDB CEO Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman will take the stand.
He is set to be cross-examined by Najib’s legal team.
Najib is on trial over four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion of 1MDB's funds.
Aside from being the former premier, the accused was also finance minister and chairperson of the board of advisors of 1MDB at the time.
1MDB was fully owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).
Meanwhile, during cross-examination today, Hazem testified that in real life it was then prime minister Najib who was “running the show” in 1MDB, contrary to provisions of the sovereign wealth fund’s memorandum and articles of association (M&A).
Hazem was responding to questions from Shafee over whether the 1MDB’s board of directors can disregard the advice of Najib, who was then chairperson of the sovereign wealth fund’s board of advisors.
Shafee was asking the witness whether in a hypothetical scenario that the 1MDB CEO need to follow the advice of the chairperson of the 1MDB board of advisors if said advice goes against the interests of the company.
“Based on the M&A, yes. But based on real life, the shareholder (of 1MDB) is the government and the shareholder running the show (then) was the prime minister,” Hazem said.
Shafee: You agree that you only take orders from the (1MDB) board of directors?
Hazem: Theoretically, yes.
Hazem helmed as 1MDB CEO from March 2013 until early 2015.
The trial will resume before Sequerah tomorrow morning.
The prosecution was led by former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.