KUALA LUMPUR – A prosecution witness in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial has disrupted proceedings again after being told he had met a friend who just tested positive for Covid-19.
The court proceedings have to be stopped again, the second time in the past two weeks that Covid-19 scares have disrupted the trial.
During the court’s break this morning, Malay Mail reported deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court that the 10th prosecution witness Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman just found out a friend whom he met on Monday had tested positive for Covid-19.
“The 10th prosecution witness and this friend of his had a meeting on Monday after the trial for about one hour in the same meeting room, but according to him, it was not that close, about two metres. But he was in the same meeting room, more than one hour, less than two hours.
“Therefore, Yang Arif, I would seek Your Lordship’s instructions, direction, whether we want to continue with him today or we should stop the proceedings this morning,” Akram was quoted as saying to the court.
Akram said Hazem’s Covid-19 status is unknown.
Najib’s lead defence lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told the court that the witness was considered a primary exposure to the person who had tested positive, while those in the courtroom were in the secondary exposure group.
“I think we ought not to take the risk because the period of gestation, we don’t know... I think we can’t take the risk because there are many of us, Yang Arif,” Shafee was quoted as saying.
High court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah then adjourned the proceedings and said the hearing will resume on May 3, which is the next scheduled date.
“In any event, I’m sure he will go for a test, will you be able to inform the court, and also the defence team of the status?” the judge asked of the prosecution.
Last Wednesday, Hazem disrupted the proceedings, saying he was unwell.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustafa P. Kunyalam had told the court: “The witness, former chief executive officer of 1MDB, Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman, is feverish and on sick leave. He is unable to testify today.”
Sequerah had ordered Hazem to undergo a swab test. Hazem had tested negative and proceedings resumed on Monday.
Najib, 67, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount. – The Vibes, February 18, 2021
