Najib Src Trial Former Mic Legal Advisor Was With Macc Team In Riyadh Court Hears

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DAY 86 | The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters day 86 today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur
Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings
Summary of Najib’s SRC RM42 million caseNajib is facing 7 charges relating to RM42m involving SRC International, a former 1MDB subsidiary
1 abuse of power charge3 criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges3 money laundering chargesClickTap to view information on judge, prosecution and defence teamKEY HIGHLIGHTSFormer MIC legal advisor was with MACC team in Riyadh, court hearsJudge advises defence to be committed to prepare witnesses for trialNajib's defence team may wrap up case on Monday next week10.59am - Proceedings resume after break
10.33am - The court allows a short break
Former MIC legal advisor was with MACC team in Riyadh, court hears10.05am - Former MIC legal advisor Selva Mookiah was with the MACC team during a 1MDB probe linked visit to Riyadh on Nov 29 2015, the High Court hears
Ninth defence witness, MACC Mohd Nasharudin Amir testifies this during cross-examination by DPP V Sithambaram
Nasharudin was an investigating officer into the RM2.6 billion donation issue linked to then-premier Najib Abdul Razak in 2015
He had earlier testified that he was part of an MACC team that went to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in late Nov 2015
Previously, Nasharudin testified that he and another MACC officer took a statement from an alleged Arab prince, Prince Saud Abdul Aziz Malik Abdul Aziz, whereby said statement was signed by the Arab prince's attorney, in Riyadh on Nov 29, 2015
Nasharudin (above) also had previously testified that they took pre-recorded statements by alleged Jho Low's associate, Tan Kim Loong, there in Riyadh
Sithambaram: You met Selva Mookiah on Nov 29 2015, while taking the statements (in Riyadh)
Nasharudin: Yes
Sithambaram: In what capacity was he (Selva) in Riyadh during the recording of the two statements. Who is he representing
Nasharudin: I am not sure what was his job in Riyadh, I only know he was there when the statements were taken
Sithambaram: If there is a lawyer with an MACC team during the recording (of the statements), what was his role there
Nasharudin: I do not know
Sithambaram: Did he (Selva) say that he was a lawyer for Tan Kim Loong or anyone else
Nasharudin: None
Selva is one among witnesses that Najib's defence team sought to call to the witness stand
9.47am - MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya comes into court
She explains to the court that she could not testify today and only can be done on Thursday
Earlier, lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah explained to the court that there was a mistake in the subpoena to Latheefa and said that she could only testify later
Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali then allows Latheefa to testify on Thursday
Judge advises defence to be committed to prepare witnesses for trial9.43am - Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali advises Najib Abdul Razak's defence to be committed to prepare their witnesses for trial
"This cannot go on. Need commitment (to prepare witnesses for Najib's RM42 million SRC International trial)," Nazlan tells lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah
The judge says this following Shafee informing the court that both MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya and former MIC legal advisor Selva Mookiah are not ready to testify today
Yesterday, Shafee informed the court that Latheefa and Selva were ready to testify today
Najib's defence team may wrap up case on Monday next week9.45am - Najib Abdul Razak's defence team expresses the possibility that they may be able to wrap up their case on Monday next week, the High Court hears
Lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah says this to DPP V Sithambaram, who said it is hoped the defence can close their case on Monday
9.37am - Former premier Najib Abdul Razak enters the dock as proceedings before Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali begins
MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya is among witnesses that the defence is ready to call on the 86th day of Najib Abdul Razak’s RM42 million SRC International trial today
Yesterday, at the end of proceedings, lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court that she and former MIC legal adviser Selva Mookiah are two defence witnesses that can be called to proceedings today
Latheefa’s testimony is sought by former premier Najib’s defence team in relation to the MACC on Jan 8 exposing audio recordings of conversations allegedly involving the accused and several other personalities in relation to the 1MDB scandal
Yesterday, the prosecution tried to tender as evidence a Jakim bulletin dated Feb 2010 in an attempt to verify then minister in the prime minister’s department Jamil Khir Baharom’s whereabouts on Jan 11 that same year
The Jakim bulletin allegedly stated that Jamil, who was then the minister in charge of Islamic affairs, was at a related programme at Putrajaya on that date
In past proceedings on Feb 11, Jamil Khir testified that he was part of a Najib-led delegation to Saudi Arabia on Jan 11, 2010, and that on that date (Jan 11 2010) at Riyadh, the Middle Eastern kingdom’s then ruler King Abdullah Abdulaziz al Saud had allegedly promised financial donation to the accused
However, Najib’s defence team yesterday objected to the document being tendered as evidence, with Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali then only allowing the document to be tendered as ID (Identification Document) rather than as exhibit (ID means that during proceedings, a witness can only be referred to the document without its contents being read out in court)
When proceedings before Nazlan resumes around 9am this morning, the defence team is expected to conduct a bit more re-examination of the ninth defence witness, MACC assistant commissioner Mohd Nasharudin Amir. - Mkini

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