THE trial of Najib Razak relating to the embezzlement of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds was postponed today after the former prime minister was reported to be suffering from severe diarrhoea and had to be referred to specialists at Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

Appeal Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, appearing as High Court judge, made the decision after Kajang Prison medical officer Dr Mohd Hafiz Mohd Hoshni provided an explanation on Najib’s health condition at today’s proceedings. He also ordered the trial to resume on Thursday.

Hafiz, who was questioned by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib, said he was informed by the assistant medical officer at 7.15am today that Najib had complained about being unwell and was suffering from diarrhoea.

“When I met Najib, he complained of stomachache and nausea in addition to having diarrhoea,” he said.

“Even after being given medication, his condition did not improve after 10 minutes and further checks found he was dehydrated and was feverish, having a temperature of 37.8℃.

“I then referred him to a specialist in Kuala Lumpur Hospital and he was taken there at 9.30am. At the time, he was tired and dehydrated.”

The specialist then provided two-day medical leave to Najib and confirmed that he was unwell to attend the court hearing as he was not able to stand or sit for long periods and needed to be on a drip, he said.

Replying to a question by Najib’s counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Hafiz said Najib was found to have been having diarrhoea since yesterday and was referred to get better treatment.

Najib, 70, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes of RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount. – Bernama, May 9, 2023.