NAJIB Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial was postponed today after the former prime minister took medical leave for a hematoma that developed after his recent eye surgery.

Lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court that his client is currently on medical leave for seven days since last Friday, May 21.

“I’m afraid that the accused had surgery on both of his eyes immediately after the case last Thursday,” said Shafee.

“He said (he was) hoping to recover, but unfortunately, he developed a hematoma. We were all hoping that he could recover by yesterday but the hematoma got worse.”

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah permitted the court to postpone trial today but would wait to see Najib’s condition tomorrow.

“Perhaps we can try tomorrow, we can just come and meet tomorrow as usual here, if he (Najib) is somehow okay, then we can proceed.

“We will give him a rest today and see how he recovers,” Collin said.

Najib, 67, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.

The court scheduled the trial tomorrow to start at 9.30am. – May 24, 2021.