KUALA LUMPUR – The case hearing of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy over alleged tampering of the 1MDB final audit report has been extended for another 10 days until October.
“The court has set August 11 and 12 to continue case hearing, while the additional dates given to hear the case are September 6 to 9, October 4 to 7 and October 20 and 21,” said Najib’s lawyer, Nur Syahirah Hanapiah.
So far, seven prosecution witnesses, including former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa and former auditor-general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang, have been called to testify at the trial before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
Najib, 67, is charged with using his position to order amendments to be made to the 1MDB final audit report, which was already finalised by the auditor-general before it was finalised again and presented to the Public Accounts Committee, to avoid any action being taken against him.
Arul Kanda, 44, is charged with abetting Najib in making amendments to the report to protect the Pekan MP from being subjected to disciplinary, civil or criminal action in connection with 1MDB.
They are charged with committing the offence at the Prime Minister’s Department Complex in Putrajaya between February 22 and 26, 2016.
Both were charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount of gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. – Bernama, April 1, 2021
