THE trial of former prime minister Najib Razak relating to 25 charges of money laundering and corruption has been transferred from the sessions court to the high court. 

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali allowed the case transfer upon request from Najib’s defence lawyers, who argued that it was “expedient for the ends of justice.”

Najib’s lawyers filed for the appeal to transfer the case after arguing that the judges in the sessions courts would be more “susceptible to prejudice”.

Najib faces a total of 38 criminal charges in relation to affairs of 1Malaysia Development Bhd, including four counts of corruption under Section 23 of the Malaysian-Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Act and 21 counts of money laundering under Section 4 of the  Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Lead prosecutor Sulaiman Abdullah had also applied to change the venue of the trial from the Kuala Lumpur court complex to the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.

Najib’s legal team opposed the request, saying the KL court had sufficient space to conduct the trial. 

Chief Judge of Malaya Zaharah Ibrahim will rule on the request for a venue change at an undetermined date.

Najib’s counsel Harvinderjit Singh told the court earlier the case had “novel issues” that should be adjudicated in the high court.

The prosecution did not oppose the transfer on the grounds that “it is expedient for the ends of justice”.

“Otherwise some of the cases will be tried at the sessions court and some of it tried at the high court,” said special prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram. 

Case management has been set to November 29, with the two parties to file submissions two days prior.

The court will decide on November 29 whether to grant a request for the statements of the witnesses questioned by the MACC since 2015. 

Najib sat in the dock, wearing a blue suit while his wife Rosman Mansor sat in the public gallery, wearing a green veil and baju kurung. Both appeared calm. 

The Bar Council was the watching brief. – October 31, 2018.