1MDB audit tampering: Najib, Arul joint trial in Nov, Jan
KUALA LUMPUR: The 1MDB audit tampering trial involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and 1MDB’s former president and CEO, Arul Kanda Kandasamy will take place from Nov 18 to Nov 29, as well as from Jan 13 to Jan 17 next year.
The dates were fixed by High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan as counsels to both accused agreed for a joint trial even though both Najib and Arul Kanda initially charged separately.
Arul Kanda is represented by N Sivananthan and Muhammad Shafee Abdullah for Najib. Shafee is also leading Najib’s defence team in the SRC case.
Approximately 25 to 30 witnesses will be summoned throughout the trial said DPP Fatnin Yusof.
The judge fixed Aug 29 for case mention.
Both were first charged separately on Dec 12 last year.
Najib was charged with receiving gratification in the form of protection from ethical, civil or criminal actions against him as a public officer in relation to 1MDB, by ordering the alteration of the draft audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee between Feb 22 and 26, 2016, at the Prime Minister’s Department in Putrajaya.
Arul Kanda was charged for abetting with Najib.
The dates were set before Najib’s SRC trial resumed for the second day.
