Day 37: 1MDB board did not check background of Jho Low-linked director

LIVE | The criminal trial of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak involving the alleged abuse of power and money laundering of 1MDB funds enters its 37th day today at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysiakini brings you live reports of the proceedings.

Former 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi is set to continue being cross-examined by the defence on the 37th day of former premier Najib Abdul Razak's trial on the RM2.28 billion 1MDB case today.

The ninth prosecution witness' testimony today is a continuation from yesterday's proceedings, which marked a return to trial following over six months of numerous postponements.

Yesterday's proceedings saw a number of new developments during its afternoon session, among them that the prosecution wants to cite Najib for contempt for his statements in a Reuters article.

In the article dated March 4, Najib was quoted as saying that he expected a more “conducive atmosphere” for the 1MDB trial following the change of government from Pakatan Harapan to Perikatan Nasional.

During yesterday's trial, lead deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram informed Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that Najib's stepson Riza Abdul Aziz has indicated readiness to testify in the RM2.28 billion 1MDB trial.

On May 14, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court granted Riza a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over a 1MDB-linked US$248 million money laundering case, following a plea deal whereby he agreed to return millions of ringgit to the government.

While under questioning by senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah yesterday, Shahrol told the court that the 1MDB board of directors omitted certain details in its minutes to protect then prime minister Najib.

During a press conference after proceedings yesterday, Shafee said that the "truth" helped Riza's case and thus the possibility of Riza testifying in the current 1MDB trial may actually help Najib.

Before the press yesterday, Shafee also questioned the criticisms against Riza's DNAA.

The legal practitioner asked why no questions were raised instead over the acquittal of former finance minister Lim Guan Eng of graft charges involving the purchase of a bungalow at allegedly below market price.

The acquittal was done during the tenure of then attorney-general Tommy Thomas.

Najib's 1MDB trial before Sequerah is expected to resume around 9.30am...