CONVICTED former prime minister Najib Razak’s 1MDB audit report tampering trial at Kuala Lumpur High Court was adjourned today after his lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah tested positive for Covid-19.

The development means the prosecution will have to wait to argue its application to call Najib’s co-accused, former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy, to testify against him.

Defence lawyer Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed confirmed the adjournment to the media.

On May 30, Shafee was absent from court, while a member of the defence team informed the judge this was due to a fever and saw throat.

Shafee tested positive for Covid-19 on May 31, so the court today held case management instead.

The court has now fixed June 14 to hear the prosecution’s bid to call Arul Kanda as a star witness.

The prosecution believes Arul Kanda’s testimony will be crucial to give insight into Najib’s actions when he oversaw the state investment firm as then finance minister and chairman of its advisory board. 

Meanwhile, the joint trial of Najib and Arul Kanda for tampering with a 1MDB audit report will resume from July 4 to 14, Wan Aizuddin said.

Najib is charged with using his position to order amendments to 1MDB’s final audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to prevent any action against him.

Arul Kanda was charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments.

The alleged amendments involve fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho’s attendance at 1MDB meetings, and over conflicting financial statements in the audit report. – June 3, 2022.