THE trial of Najib Razak over 1MDB audit tampering charges was postponed today after a witness called in sick.

The court set the next hearing date on August 12.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court that investigating officer Haniff Lami, the prosecution’s 16th and last witness, was unable to testify as he was experiencing intestinal bleeding.

“The next witness is the last witness, Encik Haniff, the investigating officer; he’s taken ill as he’s suffering from intestinal bleeding.

“Yesterday, at the last minute, I attempted to make arrangements to (hear his evidence) by Zoom but unfortunately, we did not have sufficient time to alert the court to make the arrangements.

“His medical certificate is in court; he is excused for two days. His condition is quite bad because he is bleeding from his intestines,” said Sri Ram.

Sri Ram said Haniff is expected to be available to testify on August 12.

Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said the hearing would resume on that date with Najib’s lead defence lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah’s continuing his cross-examination of the 15th prosecution witness Arul Kanda Kandasamy. Haniff is to be on standby to testify next.

Najib, 68, is charged with using his position as then prime minister to order amendments to the 1MDB final audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee. Arul, 45, is charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya on February 22-26, 2016.

Both of them are charged under section 23 (1) of the MACC Act 2009, which provides for up to 20 years in prison and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever sum is higher, upon conviction. – July 14, 2022.