KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will testify as a prosecution witness this December 22 at the trial of Tan Sri Shahrir Ab Samad who is facing charges of failing to declare RM1 million allegedly received from the former prime minister.
High court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin set the date after deputy public prosecutor Rasyidah Murni Azmi told the court that Najib, who is currently on trial for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd case, was only available on that date.
“The prosecution can call the next witness to testify tomorrow, while Datuk Seri Najib can testify on December 22. The prosecution can recall the investigating officer after Datuk Seri Najib has testified,” said the judge.
Shahrir, who is former Johor Baru MP, is facing charges of failing to declare RM1 million received from Najib through an AmIslamic Bank Bhd cheque dated November 27, 2013, to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
Earlier, Rasyidah said the prosecution requested for the hearing that had been set for tomorrow and December 15 to be vacated and continued on December 22 for Najib to testify.
“Datuk Seri Najib’s testimony has to be heard first before the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer is called to testify,” she said.
However, lawyer Datuk Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros, representing Shahrir, objected to the prosecution’s request to extend the date because it would prolong the case’s trial and waste the court’s time.
“The longer this case drags on, the longer it takes for my client to appear in court even though he has personal issues to attend to, including a sick child in hospital.
“If possible, the MACC investigating officer should be called first tomorrow and Thursday so as not to waste the court’s time and we suggest that the witness (investigating officer) be called again after Datuk Seri Najib testifies,” said the lawyer.
At today’s proceedings, IRB Assessment Division officer Tuan Zulkfli Tuan Lah, who is the 21st prosecution witness, was called to continue with his testimony.
Shahrir, 72, is facing a money laundering charge by not stating his real income for the 2013 assessment year, which is a violation of Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967, on the RM1 million believed to be from unlawful activities, which he received from Najib.
He was charged with committing the offence at IRB, Duta Branch, Government Office Complex, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim here on April 25, 2014.
The charge, under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, provides imprisonment for up to five years imprisonment or a fine of RM5 million or both, if convicted. – Bernama, December 13, 2022
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