NAJIB Razak’s corruption trial in connection with 1Malaysia Development Bhd will proceed as scheduled on August 19, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled today after dismissing an application from the prosecution to postpone the hearing pending the conclusion of the defendant’s SRC International case. 

Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah said the prosecution failed to provide “reasonable grounds” to adjourn proceedings.

Also, Sequerah said, the trial over SRC International funds is expected to only conclude in January or February next year.  

The judge said he was willing to accommodate requests to vacate certain dates for proceedings in the other case but only after the 1MDB trial has commenced.

In an immediate reaction, Najib’s lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said he will appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal if the prosecution does not.

During submissions earlier today, both the prosecution and defence agreed Najib’s SRC International case should conclude before he stands trial for more crimes.

“If the AG (attorney-general) doesn’t appeal, I will appeal. We disagree with his (judge’s) reasoning. He said no reasonable cause, which is an open thing. It can accommodate anything. There’s a lot to say about what constitutes reasonable cause,” Shafee told reporters outside the courtroom.

Thomas did not speak to the press. 

The A-G told the court earlier today during submissions that the defence “has to have their day in court.”

“If it takes 70 witnesses so be it. The principle is it is fundamental to not start trial number two when trial number one is still ongoing.”

Shafee concurred: “Let’s finish this case one at a time. Justice cannot be rushed and the right to counsel goes directly to the heart of the right to trial.”

The prosecution applied last Wednesday to postpone trying Najib for 25 corruption charges in connection with RM2.28 billion of 1MDB’s money.

Najib is currently being tried for seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money-laundering and power abuse, in relation to RM4 billion in loans that SRC International received from a government agency in 2011 and 2012. The trial commenced on April 3 and should continue until August 15.

Th motion to adjourn the second trial was filed following an earlier decision by Sequerah that the 1MDB trial must begin by August 19.

The prosecution has sought thrice to postpone 1MDB hearing dates to give precedence to Najib’s SRC International trial.

The AG later informed the presiding judge in the SRC International trial that the prosecution will appeal today’s High Court ruling to the Court of Appeal and that it will file a certificate of urgency. – July 18, 2019.