NAJIB Razak’s trial for seven charges related to SRC International Sdn Bhd will continue from April 15 to May 10, the high court ruled today, despite attempts by the defence to seek different dates.

“There is some degree of priority in this case. As such, I set April 15 to May 10 for the continuation. There should be sufficient notice for alternative arrangements to be made. (It) will start at 9am,” said Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.

Earlier, the prosecution and defence battled over two additional days (April 8-9) sought by Attorney-General Tommy Thomas for the trial.

The defence, headed by Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, rejected the two dates, saying lawyers on his team were busy on those days.

Before the judge’s ruling, Shafee told the court that he had more cases to try tomorrow and could not be present for Najib’s trial.

“I cannot be pushed on both sides of the candle. I have other cases in which the accused has been incarcerated since 2012. Hence, they are more important,” he told the court.

Thomas, however, objected to Shafee’s request, saying it was not a good excuse.

“Both sides have big group of lawyers. But no lawyer is indispensable. The unavailability of one lawyer cannot be an excuse for adjournment,” Thomas said, adding that if Shafee could not attend the trial, other lawyers on the defence team could cross-examine the prosecution’s witnesses.

“I was a private practitioner who never asked for adjournment. Look at my track record,” Thomas said, adding that he also expected prosecutors, including himself, to be “coming in and out” as the trial progresses.

“That is his style,” Shafee retorted. “He’s not permanent in any criminal case.” 

Shafee said that, as lead counsel, he ought to be present.

“I need to supervise my team. There’s only one general in my team. In my team, there can be only one general. If he has two or three generals, that is his problem,” he said.

Najib faces three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering and one count of power abuse over sums amounting to RM42 million belonging to SRC. If found guilty, Najib faces up to 20 years’ jail and a fine.

The case started today despite earlier attempts by the defence to seek a postponement.

The first witness to take the stand was 35-year-old Muhamad Akmaluddin Abdullah, an assistant registrar at the Companies Commission of Malaysia. – April 3, 2019.