PUTRAJAYA: The defence in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case involving the misappropriation of RM2.28bil has closed its case after calling 26 witnesses.
Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told the court that the final witness in its case was forensic document expert Tay Eue Kam.
ALSO READ: 1MDB trial: Expert unable to verify Najib's signature on documents
"Yang Arif, we have officially closed the case after our 26th witness," Shafee told presiding judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah here on Tuesday (May 6).
Justice Sequerah thanked parties for assisting the High Court in the case.
He then fixed Sept 30 for parties to make their submissions simultaneously, with replies due by Oct 10.
The judge also fixed Oct 21 to 24 and Oct 27 to 31 for oral submissions before the court.
"I trust that the submissions will focus on the main issues raised by the defence. I do not need to give further instructions.
"All the hearing dates fixed prior to this are hereby vacated," Justice Sequerah said.
ALSO READ: Ex-banker learnt from Jho Low about 1MDB being set up, court told
The prosecution's trial began Aug 28, 2019 and its final day was on May 30 last year.
A total of 50 prosecution witnesses were called to the stand over 233 days.
On Oct 30, the High Court ordered Najib to enter his defence on the charges.
Najib took the stand as the first defence witness on Dec 2. A total of 26 defence witnesses testified over 58 days.
ALSO READ: 1MDB trial: Court clears Roger Ng to testify
Defence witnesses included former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamarudin and the sister of Terengganu's Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Tengku Datuk Rahimah Sultan Mahmud.
Najib, 71, faces four counts of using his position to obtain RM2.28bil gratification from 1MDB's funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
