Prosecution seeks postponement of 1MDB trial
KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s trial involving SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds has asked for the dates of the former prime minister’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB) trial to be vacated.
An application for the postponement of the 1MDB trial pending the completion of the SRC International trial was made to the High Court yesterday.
This followed the prosecution's unsuccessful attempt to get High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who is presiding over the 1MDB case, to postpone the trial.
A notice of urgency was also filed by the prosecution for the motion to be heard before the 1MDB trial starts on May 14 as it was a public interest case.
Deputy public prosecutor Muhammad Izzat Fauzan had, in an affidavit in support of the motion, said it was best for the trial (of SRC International) to continue without any adjournment until its completion as it would be prejudicial to the accused’s defence to have multiple trials proceeding on a part-heard basis.
“This would result in an unnecessary delay of all trials.”
He said in the affidavit it was in public interest that cases involving the former prime minister be disposed of expeditiously.
He said any postponement would not be indefinite or openended as it would only be until the SRC International trial was completed before the High Court delivered its judgment.
Yesterday, the prosecution had sent a letter to Sequerah, to which the court replied with a letter informing that he had declined the request.
Sequerah fixed 14 days beginning May 14, 15 and 17, May 28, 29 and 31, and June 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, as well as June 18, 20 and 21 for Najib’s 1MDB trial.