Najib 1mdb Trial Day 1 1mdb Trial Adjourned To Monday

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The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak for 25 counts of abuse of power and money laundering of 1MDB funds enters its first day today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings
KEY HIGHLIGHTS1MDB trial to start next Monday, judge rulesNajib enters court1MDB trial to start next Monday, judge rules9.45am - The 1MDB trial of former premier Najib Abdul Razak has been adjourned to next Monday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court rules
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah makes the decision after hearing from both prosecutors and defence lawyers that the trial cannot commence today due to several reasons
Among the issues cited by deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram (photo) include the defence's statutory right to have at least 14 days to study witness statements, which the prosecution only managed to serve on the defence last Friday. Sri Ram also cited the fact that the prosecution's case in the SRC International trial is nearing its conclusion
Sequerah also set this Thursday for case management, saying that he is ready to listen to prosecutors and defence lawyers on their readiness to start the trial by Monday
He then orders the prosecution to ready their opening statement and formal witnesses court by that date
Najib enters court9.23am - Proceedings begin
9am - The accused, Najib Abdul Razak, enters the court and takes a seat at the front row of the public gallery
Lead prosecutor, former judge Gopal Sri Ram, is also seen in court with other members of the prosecution – Ahmad Akram Gharibz Mohammad Mustaffa P Kunyalam, T Deepa Nairz Nadia Mohd Izhar, Najwa Bistamam, Hazmida Harris Lee, and Tan Song Yan
The former premier's lawyers are also present
Nearly a year after being charged, the trial of former premier Najib Abdul Razak for abusing power and laundering RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds is set to begin today
Following multiple failed attempts at postponement, the hearing is scheduled to start before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah (photo) at 9am
The 1MDB matter involves the largest set of charges against Najib, with the 25 counts linked to the 1MDB scandal, particularly the RM2.6 billion donation he claims to have received
Four charges are for abusing his position to obtain RM2.28 billion from 1MDB
The remaining 21 charges are for money laundering via receiving, spending and returning the RM2.08 billion donation (as it was valued at the time) from Tanore Finance Corporation
However, it is understood that the prosecution, with the support of the defence team, will try to apply for the trial be rescheduled
Among reasons that may be cited are to allow for the RM42 million SRC International trial before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali to be completed with the testimony of the final prosecution witness, MACC investigating officer Rosli Hussain
Additionally, the prosecution only managed to serve the statements of the witnesses in the 1MDB case on the defence last Friday
Under the Criminal Procedure Code, witness statements are to be served on the defence no later than 14 days prior to trial, unless agreed to by both parties
Depending on the outcome of the application before Sequerah, Najib's defence team will appear before Nazlan today to inform him of progress, with the possibility that the SRC case may even proceed today
-Mkini

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