KUALA LUMPUR: The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak had to be adjourned today as the lead defence counsel and prosecution witness were both on medical leave.
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At the onset of the trial today, one of the lawyers in Najib’s defence team informed High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was down with a severe throat infection.
He said Shafee had seen a doctor yesterday and obtained a medical chit (MC) for today and tomorrow.
“We have no choice but to seek for an adjournment today and the trial tomorrow to be vacated also.
“Tan Sri Shafee actually wanted to be here today, but his condition just did not enable him to be present,” said Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohamad.
Earlier, lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram informed Sequerah that prosecution witness Datuk Mohd Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, 49, was also unable to attend court today.
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He said Shahrol, who is the former 1MDB chief executive officer, is also on medical leave until tomorrow.
Sequerah then said that the court had no choice but to adjourn the trial today and also vacate tomorrow’s hearing.
He fixed Dec 13 for case management.
Najib, 66, is facing 25 charges of receiving RM2.28 billion which originated from 1MDB.
The charges include 21 for money laundering and four for abuse of power. -NST