KUALA LUMPUR – After being postponed for almost four months, the trial of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds, will begin at the high court here this morning.
The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah will continue with the 10th prosecution witness, former 1MDB chief executive officer Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, who will be cross-examined by Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is leading the defence team.
Hazem, 47, began testifying on September 14, last year.
Najib, 67, was charged with four counts of abusing his position to obtain bribes amounting to RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds, and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
Before this, members of the press were required to take a special pass to enter the open court and two video rooms, known as “video links”, which featured live trials.
However, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 19, last year, court management has limited the number of media representatives in the open court and video rooms to 10 people each. – Bernama, January 5, 2021
