Court of Appeal maintains Najib’s 1MDB trial date
PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal ruled against former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appeal for a later trial date for his 1Malaysia Development Berhad corruption trial.
The appellate court ruled that the 1MDB trial will begin in a fortnight, regardless whether the appellant’s hearing involving SRC International was completed.
Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebii who chaired the three-judge bench dismissed the appeal brought by both the prosecution and defence to delay the 1MDB trial, also known as the “Tanore” case.
The appellate court judges said High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah had exercised his discretion to have the 1MDB case as scheduled.
“In the appeal before us, we are not persuaded by the argument.
“The learned judge has given his reasons why he refused to postpone the 1MDB case and the reasons were valid,” he said.
The quorum of judges was also made up of Court of Appeal judges Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof and Datuk Hasnah Mohammed Hashim.
In the unanimous judgment, Abdul Rahman said said the prosecution cannot choose to adjourn a case nor utilise the court as a “mere repository”.
“Furthermore, the learned High Court judge has made it clear to the learned parties that he was willing to accommodate and continue with the on-going SRC trial.
“For these reasons, we are of the view that this is not fit and proper case for appellate intervention,” he said.
Sequerah also had dismissed the prosecution’s bid to postpone the trial on 18 Oct on the basis that there were insufficient grounds.
Najib is currently facing seven charges of money laundering, power abuse and criminal breach of trust over RM42 million from SRC International and the trial runs until 15 Aug.
