Kuala Lumpur: KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has tentatively fixed Aug 26 to resume Najib Razak’s trial for alleged abuse of power in connection with the finalised 1MDB audit report tabled before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Deputy public prosecutor Mustafa P Kunyalam said today’s scheduled hearing before judge Zaini Mazlan has been vacated as the former prime minister is in the Federal Court to appeal against his conviction in the SRC International case.
The law firm Messrs Shafee & Co, appearing for Najib, had written to the High Court two days ago to seek an adjournment.
“We received a letter yesterday from a High Court deputy registrar that the application to vacate today’s scheduled hearing is allowed,” Mustafa said.
He said the court had also earlier fixed the hearing for Sept 2 and has now added Oct 21, 25 and 28 as additional new dates.
Najib’s legal team, led by Shafee Abdullah, was to have cross-examined Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Haniff Lami and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy today.
Najib is charged with alleged abuse of power as the then prime minister and finance minister in February 2016 to obtain immunity from legal action and causing amendments to the finalised 1MDB audit report before it was tabled at the PAC meeting in March 2016.
On June 24, the court allowed the prosecution’s application to examine Arul Kanda, who is charged with abetting Najib. He remains a co-accused.
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