KUALA LUMPUR: Former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz is on medical leave (MC) for two days and will not be taking the stand on Thursday (Nov 24) in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption trial.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told High Court judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah that Zeti, a key witness whose name has been mentioned throughout the trial, was suffering from a high fever, vertigo and vomiting.
"I received a text message from the investigating officer (IO) around 11.56 am today (Nov 23) that Zeti, whom I previously said would come tomorrow, had informed through her lawyer to the IO that she is not well and is on medical leave for two days," said the prosecutor here on Wednesday (Nov 23).
Justice Sequerah then said the court would need to view the MC, which DPP Ahmad Akram said would be provided to the court.
Former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, who is the 42nd prosecution witness, will be taking the stand for cross-examination on Thursday.
Last month, lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram told the court that the prosecution intends to call Zeti as a prosecution witness after Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah posted a Zeti-related question to the 39th prosecution witness, former AmBank non-executive director Cheah Tek Kuang.
Cheah was grilled about the presence of the fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or known as Jho Low, at Zeti's house.
Najib, 69, is on trial for 25 charges in total – four for abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.28bil; and 21 for money laundering involving the same amount of money.
The hearing continues before Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Thursday.
