TODAY’S hearing of former prime minister Najib Razak’s SRC International trial has been adjourned as there are no senior defence lawyers available to continue the cross-examination of the prosecution’s latest witness.

This morning, defence lawyer Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that Harvinderjit Singh, who was supposed to continue his cross-examination of former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu, is on medical leave.

Lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah meanwhile has to attend another court case, judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali was told. 

Ad hoc deputy public prosecutor V. Sithambaram told the court he had received a phone call from Harvinderjit at 6:30am today.

Sithambaram added that it was “too short a notice” to call witnesses slated for next week to testify.

He assured the court that the prosecution’s case will be completed by the stipulated August 16 deadline. 

“The court allows the adjournment for today, since Mr Harvey is not available,” said Mohd Nazlan.

“But tomorrow, the defence is to provide the medical certificate.

“The trial has to proceed tomorrow. Either get another counsel to continue or get another witness to call,” he said, adding that August 9 has been set as a full-day replacement.

This trial was to have entered its 43rd day today. This is the defence’s first application for a trial date to be taken off.

“We just have no other choice but for the matter to be vacated,” Wan Aizuddin told The Malaysian Insight after the court adjourned.

He said today’s proceeding would not affect the case.

“In fact, the prosecution said it is confident of finishing its case by August 16.”

Nazlan had earlier questioned the absence of Najib’s other lawyers, namely former solicitor-general Yusof Zainal Abiden, S. Devanandan and Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin.

Shafee today attended to a National Feedlot Corporation suit against Public Bank for breach of contract in protecting the confidentiality of its bank accounts.

The court was told that the case has to press ahead as presiding judge Su Geok Yiam will be retiring within a week.

Today, Harvinderjit was expected to continue his cross-examination of Yu, focusing on her relationship with fugitive financier Low Taek Jho and former SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil.

Yu yesterday said she met both men in 2008, a year before 1Malaysia Development Berhad was formed.

Najib’s charges are linked to RM4 billion in loans issued to SRC International, for which he is accused of receiving RM42 million in his personal accounts in 2014 and 2015.

He faces three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money-laundering and one count of abuse of power. The 66-year-old faces up to 20 years imprisonment if found guilty. – July 24, 2019.