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THE defence in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s high-profile 1MDB trial has officially closed its case, with the High Court set to hear final submissions from October 21 to determine whether Najib will be convicted or acquitted.
His lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Tuesday that the defence had concluded after calling its 26th and final witness, Tay Eue Kam, a forensic document analysis expert from PHA Handwriting Analysis Sdn Bhd.
"The prosecution stage of the trial began on August 28, 2019, and ended on May 30, 2024, spanning 293 hearing days, with 50 prosecution witnesses and 26 defence witnesses taking the stand," Shafee said during proceedings at the Palace of Justice.
Najib was ordered to enter his defence on October 30, 2024, with the defence phase beginning on December 2 that same year. "These defence proceedings concluded today, after a total of 58 hearing days," he added.
Presiding judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, now a Court of Appeal judge, scheduled September 30 for written submissions, while oral submissions are set to take place between October 21–24 and October 27–31.
“I believe the submissions will focus on the key issues raised by the defence. Thank you to all involved, and the court has vacated all previously fixed hearing dates,” said Sequerah.
The court’s decision—whether to convict Najib or acquit him—is expected after the final round of submissions.
Among the high-profile witnesses in the trial were former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh, former CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, 1MDB’s former legal counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan, Princess Tengku Datuk Rahimah Putri of Terengganu, and former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa.
The prosecution is led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Kamal Baharin Omar, Datuk Ahmad Akram Gharib, and Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam.
Najib, 72, faces four charges of abusing his position to receive RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds, and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The alleged offences were committed at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, Bukit Ceylon, between February 24, 2011, and December 19, 2014, with the money laundering charges spanning from March 22 to August 30, 2013.
He is charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, punishable under Section 24(1), which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of up to five times the amount of the bribe or RM10,000—whichever is higher.
The money laundering charges fall under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFPUAA), carrying a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM5 million, or both, upon conviction. - May 6, 2025