KUALA LUMPUR: The corruption trial involving RM42mil in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds has been postponed for three days as Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is accused of misappropriating the money, is on sick leave.
The former prime minister’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed High Court judge Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali during the proceeding that he received a call from his client early yesterday morning.
“Najib did not sound well. It is suspected that he has conjunctivitis in both eyes. It must have happened overnight, ” he said.
Shafee said based on photos, the infection appeared bad and an eye specialist had given Najib a three-day sick leave until tomorrow.
The defence team, he said, had shown the medical certificate and photos to the prosecution.
Ad hoc prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram supported the application to postpone on the grounds that an eye infection could pass on to others in court.
He said the prosecution’s case was expected to end tomorrow while Najib’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) hearing was slated to begin on Monday.
Sithambaram said the prosecution would be writing to High Court judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who is presiding over the 1MDB trial, for an appointment and to fix a case management tomorrow.
However, Justice Mohd Nazlan said that Justice Sequerah was currently abroad and would return to the courts on Monday.
Sithambaram then said the prosecution would inform Justice Sequerah of its application to continue the SRC trial on Monday where investigating officer Rosli Husain would continue his testimony.
The court then allowed the postponement.
Najib, 66, is facing three counts of criminal breach of trust, one count of abusing his position and three counts of money laundering amounting to RM42mil in SRC International funds.
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