THE High Court in Kuala Lumpur today postponed jailed former prime minister Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd trial because lead defence counsel Mohammed Shafee Abdullah has been taken ill. 

Defence lawyer Alaistair Brandah Norman told Justice Collin Sequerah that Shafee was not well enough to attend the trial to conduct the cross-examination of former AmBank managing director Cheah Tek Kuang. 

He said that Shafee had obtained a medical certificate for the dates October 6-9. 

“He has been taken ill and he’s down with fever and severe throat infection, which hampers him from cross examining the witnesses today,” he said.  

Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamad Mustafa P. Kunyalam did not object to the adjournment.

Sequerah then said the trial will continue on Tuesday, despite objections from the defence, which argued that Shafee had other court commitments then.

However, Sequerah overruled the defence.

“We have to continue with new witnesses. I appreciate he (Shafee) has commitments but this trial is being delayed for so long. 

“We cannot wait for this court, that court and other courts. We have a commitment to finish this trial,” he said. 

Najib is standing trial for corruption involving RM2.28 billion in 1Malaysia Development Bhd funds. He faces 25 charges – four for abuse of power and 21 for money laundering – for offences committed between 2011 and 2013. 

He is currently serving 12 years in Kajang Prison, having been convicted of misappropriating SRC International funds. – October 6, 2022.