THE Kuala Lumpur High Court has set Thursday for the resumption of Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd trial, pending the outcome of Covid-19 tests on lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and his lawyer wife, Tania Scivetti.

The duo may have been exposed to the coronavirus at their Kuala Lumpur home after close contact with Shafee’s sister-in-law at a kenduri on Saturday.

Collin Lawrence Sequerah, the 1MDB trial presiding judge, set the date after Shafee’s representative, lawyer Noor Farhah Mustaffa, informed the court that the results of the duo’s tests at KPJ Damansara Specialist Hospital will be known by tomorrow morning.

Shafee’s legal team is also being tested for the disease, as is the prosecution.

His sister-in-law had come into contact with a Sirim Bhd secretary confirmed to have been infected.

The trial, last held on November 13, 2019, had been slated to resume yesterday.

This morning, Noor Farhah produced documents before the court including letters from the Health Ministry ordering the 68-year-old Shafee and his legal team to self-quarantine.

“In light of the fact that several days have to be taken off, I want to fix four additional half-days on Friday afternoons for not being able to go on with the case yesterday and today,” said Sequerah.

The prosecution, led today by Ahmad Akram Gharib, agreed to possible replacement hearing dates on April 3, 10 and 17, and May 15 and 22.

Former prime minister Najib was present in court this morning, along with some supporters. He left after the proceedings without speaking to the press.

Yesterday, ad hoc prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, 76, said he had been in close contact with two lawyers who may have contracted the virus. He is undergoing a second test today, after the first yielded a negative result.

Should the trial continue next week, ninth prosecution witness Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi will continue his testimony. He previously testified on 22 hearing dates, 15 of which involved his cross-examination by the defence.

In his 1MDB trial, Najib faces four counts of abusing his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in the state investor’s funds and 21 counts of money-laundering involving the same amount.

The 66-year-old faces 20 years’ jail upon conviction. – March 13, 2020.