Defence wraps up 1MDB misappropriation case
PUTRAJAYA: The defence in the case involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the misappropriation of RM2.28bil from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) officially closed its case after calling 26 witnesses.
Lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the court that the defence had concluded its case following the testimony of its final witness, forensic document expert Tay Eue Kam.
'Yang Arif, we officially close our case after the 26th witness,' Muhammad Shafee told Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah, the presiding judge, yesterday.
Justice Sequerah scheduled Sept 30 for the submissions from both parties, with replies due by Oct 10.
Oral submissions have also been set from Oct 21 to Oct 24 and from Oct 27 to Oct 31.
'I trust that the submissions will focus on the main issues raised by the defence. I do not need to give further instructions,' Justice Sequerah remarked.
The prosecution's phase of the trial began on Aug 28, 2019 and concluded on May 30, 2024.
Over 233 days, the prosecution called 50 witnesses to testify.
On Oct 30 last year, the High Court ordered Najib to enter his defence, with Najib himself taking the stand as the first defence witness on Dec 2, 2024.
The defence called 26 witnesses over 58 days.
Among the witnesses were former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamarudin and Tengku Datuk Rahimah Sultan Mahmud, the sister of Terengganu's Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.
Najib, 71, faces four charges of using his position to obtain gratification amounting to RM2.28bil in 1MDB funds at the AmIslamic Bank Berhad branch in Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon, between Feb 24, 2011, and Dec 19, 2014.
He is charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, which carries a penalty under Section 24(1) of the same Act, including up to 20 years in prison and a fine of either five times the bribe amount or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted.
In addition, Najib faces 21 charges of money laundering for offences committed at the same bank between March 22, 2013, and Aug 30, 2013.
These charges fall under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which carries a maximum fine of RM5mil and up to five years' imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.
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