KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry will submit an application to quash a subpoena served on Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain as a witness in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's ongoing 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial.
Home Ministry legal advisor Muhammad Ilmami Ahmad informed Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah (now a Court of Appeal judge) that although Najib's legal team served the subpoena on April 14, no explanation was provided regarding the relevance of his testimony to the defence's case.
"Therefore, we are requesting time to file an application against the subpoena," he said.
Najib's counsel, Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin, clarified that the defence intended to question Razarudin regarding former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng Chong Hwa, as well as to seek an update on the status of three outstanding arrest warrants against former 1MDB general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan.
He added that the defence had been actively attempting to locate Ng, who was repatriated to Malaysia after being convicted in the United States in connection with the 1MDB scandal, following previous statements by the IGP that Ng was in police custody.
"It is only fair that the IGP's public statements regarding investigations into Jasmine Loo and Roger Ng be examined in court, as these matters are of significant public interest," said Wan Azwan.
During the course of the trial, it was revealed that both Ng and Loo were instrumental in assisting fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, in diverting billions of ringgit from the sovereign wealth fund.
In October 2023, Razarudin announced that former Ng had been repatriated to Malaysia to assist in the ongoing 1MDB investigation.
Both Ng and Loo had fled the country following the fall of the Barisan Nasional government after the 2018 General Election.
Meanwhile, Justice Sequerah reminded all parties to avoid further delays, noting that the trial was now in its seventh year.
He expressed concern over the timeline for completion, saying, "My priority is to see this trial concluded, and I was informed that it could be wrapped up by July".
"This is an inefficient use of judicial time. You cannot hold the court ransom until these individuals are located and agree to testify. All parties must assist me in bringing this matter to a conclusion," he stressed.
In response, Wan Azwan said the defence was making every effort but faced repeated obstacles in gaining access to potential witnesses, noting that some were currently abroad and that responses from certain government agencies were still pending.
On Oct 30, 2024, Justice Sequerah ordered Najib to enter his defence after ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him.
Najib, 71, faces 25 charges, including four counts of abusing his position to accept RM2.3bil in bribes from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The hearing resumes on Thursday (April 17). – Bernama
