Judge allows trial to cut short to allow Najib to attend Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR (July 16): High Court judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah relented and allowed the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial today to end earlier than usual, after reading a letter from the Dewan Rakyat Speaker requesting that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pictured) — who is the accused in this case, and lawmaker for Pekan — be allowed to attend Parliament.

Justice Sequerah ruled that the trial might continue through lunch break until 3.15pm, instead of 4.30pm, according to his ruling yesterday, in which he dismissed the former premier's request to end the trial by lunch time.

His new decision came after he was told that Najib was slotted to speak at the Parliament at 3.30pm to debate the Royal Address by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

After the end of the morning court session today, defence counsel Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohamad mentioned a letter sent by lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah to court, understood to be from the newly appointed Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun.

However, Justice Sequerah said he had not seen it.

He then adjourned the trial for lunch, saying it would continue at 2.15pm and dismissed Wan Aizuddin's request.

"I haven't seen the letter. I'm too busy with the trial... Haven't we dealt with this application yesterday?" the judge retorted.

Interestingly, counsels from both the prosecution and defence were later seen entering the judge's chambers after the trial was adjourned, most likely to discuss the application.

After about half an hour in his chambers, Justice Sequerah entered the court room and called for the trial to continue until 3.15pm.

He said he finally had the opportunity to look at the Speaker's letter, and said Najib may proceed to Parliament later.

He noted that the Parliament session follows the "Takwim" or agreed itinerary, and members of Parliament are given specific time slots to speak.

However, the judge warned that applications such as this should have been made to the court well in advance, otherwise he will not entertain such requests.

"I don't know why I wasn't informed earlier, unless I'm informed well in advance in the future I won't allow this,"

"I don't want to debate and waste more time."

The trial continues with the cross-examination of former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.

In the 1MDB-Tanore trial, Najib is facing four counts of abuse of power for using his position as prime minister, finance minister and 1MDB board of advisers chairman to receive gratification worth RM2.28 billion and 21 counts of money laundering involving over RM4.3 billion.

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