Najib’s 1MDB trial dates remain as scheduled

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1MDB trial will commence on Aug 19 as scheduled, regardless whether the trial involving SRC is completed, ruled High Court Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
Sequerah rejected an application from the prosecution who wanted to delay the commencement of the trial since the SRC International case is still ongoing.
“After hearing both parties and taking into account that this is the third application by the prosecution, this application is rejected.
“The hearing (into the 1MDB case) will commence this Aug 19, at 9am,” the judge said.
“I am not willing to wait. If you have nothing to submit, I will make my decision,” he added.
The ruling was made even though defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah agreed for the postponement.
The 1MDB case will be heard before Sequerah on these dates:
- August 19 to 22, 26 to 29
- September 3 to 5, 10 to 12, 17 to 19, 23 to 26, 30
- October 1 to 3, 7 to 10, 14 to 17, 21 to 24, 29 to 31
- November 4 to 7, 11 to 14
EarlierThomas told the court that they had informed Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who is presiding over the SRC International trial, that the case might not be completed by Aug 15.
Nazlan had also agreed to vacate further dates to accommodate the SRC International trial, according to Thomas.
“We suggested to Nazlan to continue with SRC International hearing from Sept 3 to Sept 30, to which Nazlan said, ‘yes’.
“Come October, he said he would prefer to hear the case involving (former Felda chairperson) Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, and then (Nazlan agreed for) November as the next dates.
“These are the dates (agreed by Nazlan). And of course, we told his lordship (Nazlan) that we will come back to him after asking your lordship (Sequerah),” the attorney-general said in his submission.
K Pragalath