KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial at the High Court here Wednesday (Aug 18) will continue at 2.30pm as the former premier needs to attend a critical meeting at the World Trade Centre KL in connection with the choice of candidate for the prime minister’s post.
High Court Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed Najib’s application to cut short the morning session at 10.45am as the Pekan MP needed to attend the meeting.
"Can I just state for the record for the avoidance of doubt that I'm allowing the request by the accused only because of the peculiar circumstances on the current issue of the country at this point of time, and I suppose the importance of this meeting is achieving a resolution.
"So it is only because of that, I don't want to give the impression that the application on other meetings or events is to be allowed. Just this application. I can accommodate him to attend the meeting but we need to continue at 2.30pm. So, I see you at 2.30pm,” the judge said.
Earlier, Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the court that Barisan Nasional parties will hold a critical meeting in connection with the choice of a candidate for the prime minister’s post at 11am.
"My client is the Barisan adviser, he needs to be there with Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi together with the rest of party leaders to make a decision,” the lawyer said.
Wednesday's morning session began with Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman, 49, the former chief executive officer of 1MDB, cross-examined by Shafee on the transaction of millions of ringgit from 1MDB.
Najib, 68, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3bil from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
On Tuesday (Aug 17), the Umno Supreme Council also held a special meeting at the same venue to discuss the party’s candidate for prime minister, whose name will be submitted to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on Wednesday.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun, in a statement Tuesday, asked MPs to each submit a statutory declaration (SD) to Istana Negara on their choice of candidate to be nominated as the ninth prime minister.
The SD must be submitted to Istana Negara by 4pm Wednesday at the latest or it would not be considered. - Bernama
