THE prosecution’s ninth witness, former 1Malaysia Development Bhd CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi returns to the witness stand as Najib Razak’s trial enters its 22nd day today.

Shahrol will be cross-examined by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abullah for the sixth day.

Yesterday, the witness denied conspiring with fugitive financier Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low, to obstruct an audit by the National Audit Department into the state investor fund. 

Shahrol conceded that if a government audit had been allowed to proceed into the Terengganu Investment Authority, the precursor to 1MDB, in 2009, it would have discovered that funds from a RM5 billion bonds issuance had been misappropriated.  

He also agreed that 1MDB had transferred US$700 million (RM2.9 billion) to Good Star Ltd, supposedly PetroSaudi International Ltd’s joint venture partner, but which was actually controlled by Low.

Najib, 66, is on trial for four counts of power abuse to enrich himself with RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 counts of laundering the same amount.

He faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 charges of laundering the same amount.

Prosecutors have accused him of conspiring with the Penang-born Low, who is on the run, to defraud the state investor.

Najib is represented by a dozen lawyers led by Shafee.

Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram leads the prosecution and Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah presides.

The Malaysia Insight brings you today’s proceedings live:

2.48pm: Sequerah allows today’s hearing to adjourn to tomorrow 9.30am.

Sequerah: Let it be said that this is the last time that such a situation happened.

Shafee apologises again.

“My client feels very bad because he did say he would be here.”

2.46pm: Shafee says today’s situation is uncommon.

Shafee: Yang Ariff has governed this trial very well. We are progressing very well.

Shafee says the defence expects will conclude with Shahrol next week.

He also says the witness is considered a pivotal one and he expects the trial to proceed more quickly through the prosecution witnesses, except for a handful.

2.43pm: Sequerah says he does not what to give the impression that the court wants to turn down requests to attend Parliament.

“But he said 2:30pm he would be here, on that basis I agreed,” says Sequerah.

Shafee says Najib will be in court tomorrow at 9.30am.

Sequerah: But how do we ensure that such a similiar situation does not repeat?

2.41pm: Sri Ram: I would be most grateful that this is the last episode of such a thing happening. He could have obtained a receipt for a different slot if he informs the house speaker.

Shafee says Najib should be allowed to carry out his parliamentary duties.

2.33pm: Najib is not present.

Shafee informs the court that Najib’s speaking slot has been delayed.

He also points to previous trial where the late DAP lawmaker Karpal Singh was allowed to attend parlimentary sessions.

2.32pm: Court is in session. – October 15, 2019.