Najib’s 1MDB trial postponed as he is sent back to hospital

Trial halted: Muhammad Shafee has confirmed that Najib has been warded at HKL since Monday. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been postponed to today as the former prime minister was still in the hospital.

His lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told the High Court yesterday that Najib’s blood pressure was fluctuating.

According to Muhammad Shafee, the Pekan MP has to go through several health tests in Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) in the next few days to ascertain his condition. Najib has been admitted since Monday.

Muhammad Shafee said he was unable to obtain instructions from his client as he was not allowed to visit Najib in HKL, and therefore he requested for the hearing yesterday to be vacated.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam did not object to the request for an adjournment.

Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah then adjourned proceedings to today afternoon for parties to update the court on the situation.

On Monday, the court was informed that Najib was unwell due to a change of his blood pressure medication.

This caused the proceedings, which usually lasts a full day, to be shortened to a half-day session for Najib to seek medical attention.

The 69-year-old 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.