KUALA LUMPUR – For the first time, the high court here will hold corruption trials involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds on Saturdays starting in April.
The presiding judge, Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, has fixed the Saturdays of April 27, May 4 and 25, as well as June 1, 8 and 15, for additional dates to hear the case.
This was confirmed after today’s proceedings with Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s defence counsel and the prosecution after examining their 50th witness, Jasmine Loo.
However, despite this examination, Loo, the former 1MDB general counsel, may still be subject to recall if necessary.
Following the conclusion of cross-examination and re-examination on Loo, there are several other prosecution witnesses on the list awaiting recall for similar purposes.
These witnesses include former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission senior officer Nur Aida Arifin, former 1MDB director and chairman Tan Sri Ismee Ismail, as well as Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh.
Earlier today, Loo disagreed with Najib’s lead defence counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, when he suggested that she was a trusted member of the “gang of conmen” who conspired to misappropriate 1MDB funds.
Shafee: Because you were the trusted or (the most) trusted (member), you were allowed to fabricate or legalise documents that were not legal.
Loo: I disagree.
Shafee: I put it to you that when this (1MDB) matter became big, everyone ran helter-skelter, (but) you and Jho (fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho) kept in touch with the gang. He continued to support you, not just financially but with his influence to keep you from being detained, and arranged for you to go to Myanmar without having your passport stamped (with airport’s immigration officers).
Loo: I don’t agree.
Shafee: Your passport was not stamped, so that the Malaysian authorities would not have detected you.
Loo: I disagree.
Shafee’s questions were after Loo testified that she possessed her Malaysian passport upon entering Myanmar in 2019.
Despite maintaining that her entry into Myanmar was lawful, Loo said that her passport was not stamped and that she was escorted by the military during her arrival.
She testified that she had crossed the border into Myanmar using travel documents facilitated by Low.
Loo said that she had been in Myanmar since 2019 until she returned to Malaysia last year.
Former prime minister Najib, 70, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain an alleged RM2.3-billion bribe from 1MDB funds, as well as 21 charges of money laundering involving the same funds.
The trial before judge Sequerah continues on April 22. – April 5, 2024