FORMER prime minister Najib Razak will not take testify as the third witness in his wife Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial, the Kuala Lumpur High Court was told today.

Lawyer Jagjit Singh told the court that the defence has elected not to call Najib to the stand as his testimony is “corroborative” in nature.

“Today the defence is scheduled to call the third witness Najib Razak.

“After a brainstorming session on Saturday and late hours yesterday, the defence has elected not to call Najib as a third witness as we believe his evidence is primarily corroborative.

“After analysing the cross-examination by the prosecution, we believe  that the corroborative nature of his evidence has already been established by the defence.

“We have re-strategised and decided not to call him,” Jagjit said.

Jagjit apologised to the court for informing the last-minute decision.

Lead deputy prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram said he had no objections to the defence not calling Najib.

“The decision whether which witness to call and what order to call apart from the accused is for the defence to decide. So we have nothing to say. 

“The effect of not calling Najib will be a matter of comment in our final submission,” the senior lawyer said. 

At the same time, Jagjit also applied for the court to adjourned the hearings for the week because he said a defence witness, who was special officer to Najib, is currently performing the umrah in Saudi Arabia.

Siti Azizah Sheikh Abod will only be available on February 4, he said.

Zaini agreed and set the trial to resume on February 4.

The defence had named only three witnesses to the court when Rosmah was ordered to enter a defence. 

The defendant was the third witness apart from Najib and Siti Azizah.

Rosmah, 70, is on trial for soliticing bribes in connection with a RM1.25 billion government contract to outfit rural schools in Sarawak with solar energy.

She is also accused of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million in connection with the project in 2016 and 2017. – January 10, 2022.