NAJIB Razak’s RM2.28 billion 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB-Tanore) trial that was to resume today at the Kuala Lumpur High Court has been postponed as his lawyers are in quarantine. 

The defence team is taking the precautionary measure after a key member came into close contact with two Covid-19 positive cases..

“They informed that one of their team members is a close contact,” deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib told the media via a text message.

Akram said the defence team had sent the request late Friday evening and were granted a postponement on the same day. 

Mohamad Farhan Shafee, a lawyer in the defence team, said others in the team have chosen voluntary quarantine. 

“Both the SRC International appeal and the 1MDB trial have to be vacated this week,” he told the media via a text message.

“Considering (that) the rest of the team have been working closely with him, the necessary precautions need to be taken.”

The courtroom where the trial was scheduled to be held today was closed and only journalists were present outside.

The 1MDB-Tanore trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah was scheduled to resume today and tomorrow.

Najib, who is Pekan MP, is facing four counts of abuse of power for using his position as the then prime minister, finance minister and chairman of the 1MDB board of advisers to receive gratification amounting to RM2.28 billion. 

He also faces 21 counts of money laundering involving more than RM4.3 billion.

The trial was put on hold to give way for Najib and his lawyers to attend the SRC International appeal hearing that took place for 14 days last month. 

The final day of the hearing, which was scheduled for Thursday, has now been fixed for May 18.

For the SRC case, Najib is appealing against his conviction and sentence after being found guilty on seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position involving RM42 million of SRC International’s funds.

He was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million. – May 3, 2021.