THE High Court today postponed the hearing of former prime minister Najib Razak’s trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed the postponement following a request by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib after the passing of Gopal Sri Ram, who was described as “like a father figure to the 1MDB prosecution team”.

“My Lord, Sri Ram was our boss and team leader and he is like a father to all of us,” said Akram.

“Today was set for continued hearing. But in light of the sudden demise of Sri Ram, we seek an adjournment for two days.”

He requested an adjournment for today and tomorrow to redistribute the case workload and to attend Sri Ram’s wake tomorrow.

“His wake for non-family members to pay their respects is tomorrow at Nirvana 2 Kuala Lumpur between 8am and 1pm and his body will then be cremated at Nirvana Shah Alam,” he said.

Najib’s lead counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, did not object to it.

“We have no objections to the adjournment and our condolences to the prosecution team,” said Shafee.

The court then allowed the postponement and fixed Thursday to continue the hearing.

The trial had been fixed to continue today with the defence to continue with its cross-examination of former AmBank relationship manager Joanna Yu Ging Ping.

Sri Ram died yesterday at the age of 79 at a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur. He was admitted to the intensive care unit last week for a lung infection.

Sri Ram was the lead prosecutor in Najib’s 1MDB corruption case.

Najib, 70, is facing four charges of using his position to get bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering. – Bernama, January 30, 2023.