Najib's 1MDB trial vacated for the week, to resume Sept 26

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's ongoing RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial at the High Court here has been vacated for the week as the former prime minister is still warded at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).

It is scheduled to resume on Sept 26.

His lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah here on Wednesday (Sept 14) that Najib has gone through various medical tests on a daily basis due to his blood pressure and stomach ulcer.

Muhammad Shafee said he was finally able to meet his client after waiting at the hospital for almost three hours on Wednesday.

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"He (Najib) does not know how long he is going to be (warded).

“There is a medical certificate (MC) provided by the Prisons Department and sent to Muhammad Farhan (another lawyer in Najib's defence team) by WhatsApp. It is based on a medical examination and the MC is for Sept 14 and 15,” he said.

Muhammad Shafee also informed the court that Najib's blood pressure was stabilising after medication.

However, it was not as satisfactory as his normal reading, Muhammad Shafee added.

“I must also inform Your Lordship that my client has had a history of a very bad ulcer and didn’t realise three months ago he was at a critical stage.

“Recently, as Yang Arif knows, he went to the hospital because he complained of discomfort and they found numerous ulcers that were bleeding.

"I think for that reason he was being tested to ensure the blood pressure has got nothing to do with that,” he added.

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Justice Sequerah then asked if Najib's condition would improve by next week as the hearing was scheduled to resume on Sept 26.

“I hope he gets better by then,” he said.

Muhammad Shafee was optimistic that Najib would get better within the time frame.

DPP Ahmad Akram Gharib said the prosecution had no objection to this week's trial being vacated as the MC came from a government medical officer.

Muhammad Shafee told the media later Najib was still experiencing discomfort and was not his usual cheerful self.

“The doctors have restored his medicine to the original one (which Najib usually takes). The previous medicine and the amount was given in the correct dosage, but the one he is used to is the original one and not a generic brand.

“Contrary to what was said in the news, the generic might not be as effective as the original,” the lawyer said.

According to Muhammad Shafee, Najib’s current blood pressure reading at the hospital is 124/84, compared to his usual reading of 110/80.

He also said there was no indication if Najib would be transferred to the National Heart Institute (IJN).

“He has no medical condition relating to his heart, per se, but because it (stomach ulcer) causes bleeding, it can really (become) a heart issue which leads to stroke,” he said.

On Monday (Sept 12), the trial proceeding was cut short to a half-day session as Najib was unwell, said to be caused by a change of blood pressure medication.

Justice Sequerah allowed for the proceedings to be limited to half a day so that Najib could seek medical attention.

Najib, 69, was hospitalised on the same day.

He is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.28bil from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.