LAWYERS in Najib Razak’s SRC International Sdn Bhd trial will first be at another court this morning to attend to case management for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd trial, where the former prime minister faces up to 25 charges linked to RM2.28 billion in public funds.

They are seeking to delay the 1MDB trial’s start date, which has been tentatively set by presiding judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah for next Monday.

Defence lawyers are expected to argue that they need more time to go over thousands of pages of evidentiary documents, including witness statements, that were handed to them on Friday and Monday.

Sequerah on Monday told the defence that the prosecution can begin its case by bringing in formal witnesses, who will just give oral statements.

Najib’s charges in the SRC International case are linked to RM4 billion in loans issued to the entity in 2011 and 2012, for which he is accused of receiving RM42 million in his accounts in 2014 and 2015.

The 66-year-old has been slapped with three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money-laundering and one count of abuse of power.

Today’s proceedings are expected to begin after Sequerah makes a final decision on when the 1MDB trial will start.

In the SRC International trial, which enters its 56th day today, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigating officer Rosli Husain is expected to return to the stand.

On Tuesday, Rosli told the court that it was an article by Sarawak Report, and not The Wall Street Journal, that sparked investigations into SRC International.

The article, titled “SENSATIONAL FINDINGS! – Prime Minister Najib Razak’s Personal Accounts Linked To 1MDB Money Trail MALAYSIA EXCLUSIVE!”, was used as the basis to open an investigation paper the same day it went up.

Rosli, however, denied coming into contact with Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, and said he never ordered his subordinates to contact her. – August 22, 2019.