News by Hafiz Yatim

Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the defence did not want to delay the trial, but to bring to the court's attention that the Court of Appeal had on Monday granted leave to Najib and Shafee's applications to remove the former Federal Court judge from leading the prosecution in their cases.

Former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram: The prosecution will prove that the accused (Najib) by his words and conduct made it clear to 1MDB’s officers, its board and others that Jho Low was his alter ego.

The Court of Appeal yesterday granted leave to Najib and his lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is facing separate charges over alleged non-declaration of tax and money laundering, to recuse Sri Ram, the former Federal Court judge who has been appointed as a senior deputy public prosecutor.

Riza's lawyer Syazwani Mohd Zawawi said the application to transfer the case was filed at the High Court last Aug 16 on the grounds that the trial would affect his constitutional right, the case involves complex issues and that it would take a long time if the case goes on trial at the Sessions Court where Riza is charged.

MACC DPP Allan Suman Pillai informed Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali that since the representations sent by the three entities had been accepted, the prosecution wants the court to fix a date for consent judgment to be recorded.

Rosli has so far maintained that signatures on AmBank documents, including 15 cheques, were admitted by Najib to be his and not forged.

The trial for the suit that had been fixed on Sept 17 will continue as scheduled, according to the lawyers.

Justice Sequerah will decide on his own today whether to start the 1MDB case today as the Federal Court last week did not allow the postponement of the trial.

The judge also dismissed the Ministry and government's cross-appeal over the quantum of RM11.26 million awarded in general damages and ordered them to pay RM15,000 costs to The Edge Communications.

However, the five-member bench led by Chief Justice Datuk Seri Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat ruled that the defence and prosecution would have to take it up with High Court trial judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Aug 19 itself whether they want to proceed with the case on that day.