THE prosecution’s ninth witness, former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, returns to the stand as former prime minister Najib Razak’s trial enters its 35th day today. 

Shahrol, who was first called to the stand on September 23, will be cross-examined by lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah.

On Monday, the 1MDB trial was adjourned after Shahrol told the court he felt “under the weather”. 

It was also on Monday that the high court delivered its judgment that the prosecution has successfully established a prima facie case against Najib in the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial, where he faces seven criminal charges involving RM42 million in public funds.

SRC International is a former 1MDB subsidiary.

Meanwhile, Shahrol testified on Monday that former SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil was recruited into 1MDB in 2011 from UBG (Utama Banking Group), a company owned by fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low.

Nik Faisal, who is currently missing, was appointed as chief investment officer (CIO) in 1MDB, which was approved by Najib, said Shahrol.

Asked if he could produce Nik Faisal’s appointment letter, Shahrol said he would try to get the letter from the investigating officer of the case.

 The prosecution has accused Najib of conspiring with Low to defraud the state investor of billions of ringgit.

Najib, then the finance minister, was the sole shareholder of 1MDB as head of Minister of Finance Inc. He was also chairman of 1MDB’s advisory board.

The 66-year-old is on trial on four counts of power abuse to enrich himself with RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 counts of laundering the same amount.

He is represented by a dozen lawyers.

Former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram leads the prosecution before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.

The Malaysian Insight brings you today’s proceedings live:

10.02am: Sequerah says under the circumstances, he has to adjourn today’s session and vacate tomorrow’s.

Sequerah says he intends to keep the case management date on December 13.

This is because the 1MDB audit report tampering case will begin on Monday. Najib and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy are being charged together.

10.01am: The defence is also seeking for trial dates to be vacated as Shafee is diagnosed with a severe throat infection.

The defence tells Sequerah that it is seeking for adjournment and for the trial tomorrow to be vacated.

9.59am: Sri Ram tells the court they cannot proceed with the case this morning as Shahrol is still sick.

9.58am: Court is in session.

9.44am: The lawyers are called into Sequerah’s chambers. Shafee Abdullah is on medical leave today. – November 13, 2019.