Src Trial Adjourned As Witness Not Ready Najib Needs To Go Pwtc

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DAY 82 | The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged misappropriation of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd enters day 82 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 chargesClick to view information on judge, prosecution and defence teamTrial can't proceed as witness not ready, Najib needs to go PWTC9.24am - The RM42 million SRC International is unable to proceed today as accused Najib Abdul Razak needs to attend a political meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre at 10.30am today
The trial is also unable to commence as defence witness Rasman Abdullah is not yet ready to be produced to testify in Najib's defence
Lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah (above) informs High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali that the accused has to attend the crucial meeting
"Najib is required to leave the court for PWTC at 10.30am," Shafee says
Shafee also informs that Najib would need to go to the Istana Negara after the PWTC meeting. However, he did not specify the time
Earlier, co-defence counsel Farhan Read informs the court that they are unable to proceed with Rasman's testimony today
Yesterday, the defence was granted access to MACC statements of witnesses who could not be located, such as SRC CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil and businessperson Low Taek Jho
Farhan says they need to check the MACC statements with Rasman before they can finalise Rasman's Witness Statement
9.19am - Accused Najib Abdul Razak enters the dock as proceedings begin
9.09am - Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak enters the Kuala Lumpur High Court and takes a seat at the front row of the public gallery
Also in court waiting for proceedings to begin are DPPs V Sithambaram and other DPPs, as well as lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and other members of the defence team
Putra Perdana Bhd executive chairperson Rasman Abdullah is set to testify for the defence on the 82nd day of Najib Abdul Razak's RM42 million SRC International trial today
Yesterday, defence counsel Harvinderjit Singh informed the Kuala Lumpur High Court that they would be calling Rasman to the proceedings today
Putra Perdana Berhad is linked to Putra Perdana Construction, a company allegedly involved in the RM42 million transfer into accused Najib's accounts between December 2014 and February 2015
During proceedings yesterday, the court among others heard that the defence had opted not to call Australian handwriting expert Dr Steven Strach to testify over the result of his analysis of former premier Najib's disputed signatures on several key SRC documents
This is despite Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali on Jan 22 having allowed the defence's application for the expert to fly in from Australia to examine the authenticity of the accused's signatures on the documentary evidence
Yesterday, the court also dismissed the defence's application to compel MACC assistant commissioner Mohd Nasharudin Amir to be interviewed by them before he (Nasharudin) takes the witness stand in the defence stage of Najib's trial
Following the application's dismissal, there was no indication from the defence team whether they would still seek Nasharudin to come to court and testify on behalf of the defence
Proceedings, before Nazlan, is set to resume at 9am this morning. - Mkini

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