THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has ordered the prosecution to hand over all pre-trial documents to former prime minister Najib Razak and former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy, who will be jointly tried for allegedly tampering the firm’s audit report.

Judge Mohd Zaini Mazlan told the prosecution to prepare the evidentiary documents and witness statements.

“I don’t want the witness statements to be handed over to the defence just before the trial,” he said, adding that case management will be set for October 7.

“I wish for the documents to be ready, and as much as possible to be given to both of the accused. I want the documents to be ready a month before the trial to allow the accused to prepare as best as possible.”

Deputy public prosecutor Rozaliana Zakaria said the prosecution will comply.

Najib and Arul Kanda were represented by lawyers Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and N. Sivananthan, respectively.

Shafee informed court that Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who the presiding judge in Najib’s SRC International case has fixed the decision date on November 11.

The 1MDB audit tampering trial dates have been fixed from November 18 to 29, and January 13 to 17.

Zaini said should Nazlan decide there is a prima facie case against Najib in the SRC International trial, that case can proceed in December.

Shafee currently represents Najib in three criminal trials.

“I sympathise with the defence… however I believe there should be no adjournment and that we should stick with the fixed dates.”

The prosecution will call 30 witnesses to testify during the 15-day trial.

Najib was charged on December 12 for abusing his position to order amendments to the 1MDB final audit report before it tabled to the Public Accounts Committee between February 22 and 26, 2016.

Prosecutors said he did so to evade disciplinary, civil or criminal action against him in connection with 1MDB.

Arul Kanda was charged with abetting Najib in making amendments to the report. – August 29, 2019.