KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial today has been vacated after the high court was informed that no prosecution witnesses would turn up to testify.
Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said the prosecution had tried to call a few witnesses to come to court but to no avail due to the short notice.
“My Lord, as I promised, I tried to call our witnesses. Two of them were overseas, while three others were unable to attend court due to various reasons.
“However, the 43rd prosecution witness, namely the chairman of The Edge Media Group, Tan Sri Tong Kooi Ong, is available today. He is supposed to be cross-examined by defence lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, but Muhammad Shafee is on medical leave,” he said.
Meanwhile, lawyer Rahmat Hazlan, who was also acting for Najib, said that his boss (Shafee) will conduct the cross-examination of Tong on Monday as he was on three-day medical leave after seeing a dentist.
“My Lord, only Shafee can question Tong. His gums still hurt from the procedure, and he is still on MC,” said the lawyer.
Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah then vacated today’s trial to Monday.
Najib, 69, 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. – Bernama, November 17, 2022
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