1MDB: Zeti has high fever, unable to testify tomorrow – prosecutor

1MDB TRIAL | Former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz is on medical leave (MC) due to a high fever, a member of the prosecution told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Ahmad Akram Gharib said the star prosecution witness (Zeti) is unable to come tomorrow to testify in the RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial against former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“I received a text message from the IO (investigating officer) informing me around 11.56pm (today) that Zeti, whom I previously said would come tomorrow, had informed through her lawyer to the IO that she is not well and is on medical leave for two days.

“She has high fever and vomiting,” Akram told trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, as accused Najib looked on from the dock.

The DPP also added that the prosecution is ready to call Kevin Swampillai, a former banker with the Singaporean branch of BSI Bank Limited, to come to court next month to testify against Najib.

Two years ago, it was reported that Swampillai was banned for life by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) over a case involving US$5 million (RM16.5 million) in secret profits linked to the 1MDB affair.

Proceedings before Sequerah continues tomorrow. Lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah acted for Najib.

Last month, the prosecution told the court they would call Zeti (above) to testify in the 1MDB trial.

Najib’s defence team previously contended that the nation’s former top banking regulator and the central bank did not fulfil their statutory duty in relation to the inflow of funds from overseas into the accused’s bank account.

The accused at present has a pending appeal before the Court of Appeal to obtain banking information about Zeti’s family in relation to the defence team’s claim of a link between her family and that of fugitive businessperson and key 1MDB figure, Low Taek Jho (Jho Low).

Abuse of power, money laundering charges

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

In regard to the four abuse of power charges, the former Pekan MP was alleged to have committed the offences at AmIslamic Bank Berhad’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 former finance minister was purported to have committed the offences at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.

The prosecution contended that the wrongdoing at 1MDB was carried out by Low and several others with Najib’s blessing.

However, the accused’s defence team claimed that Najib had no knowledge of the crime perpetrated at 1MDB and the embezzlement was solely masterminded by Low and other members of the fund’s management.

The BN advisory committee chairperson is serving a 12-year jail sentence after the Federal Court on Aug 23 dismissed his appeal against the RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case conviction.

Initially, a subsidiary of 1MDB, SRC later became fully owned by MOF Inc. Najib also used to be adviser emeritus to SRC and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers.

1MDB: Jho Low threatened me, says The Edge chairperson

Najib's right to fair trial will be violated if audio recording allowed - Shafee

1MDB: Najib didn't say a word, showed me the door, Tong testifies

1MDB trial postponed as prosecution witnesses not ready, Shafee on MC