KUALA LUMPUR: The decision in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) audit tampering trial involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy has been pushed to March 3.
The date was initially fixed for Jan 30 where Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan was expected to deliver his decision on whether Najib and Arul Kanda would be acquitted or ordered to enter their defence.
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In an email to parties on Wednesday (Jan 18), High Court deputy registrar Catherine Nicholas wrote that Justice Mohamed Zaini has vacated the date.
The email did not state any reason for the postponement.
When contacted, deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib confirmed the new date.
On Tuesday (Jan 17), Justice Mohamed Zaini was elevated to the Court of Appeal.
A judge's elevation to a higher court would not hinder ongoing trials he presides over at the lower court.
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The prosecution closed its case on Sept 7 after calling 16 witnesses.
Witnesses included the late Tan Sri Ali Hamsa who was the former chief secretary to the government, former auditors-general Tan Sri Ambrin Buang and Tan Sri Madinah Mohamad, former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Bakke Salleh, and former National Audit Department audit director Saadatul Nafisah Bashir Ahmad.
Najib, 70, is accused of abusing his position to order amendments to the 1MDB final audit report to avoid any action being taken against him while Arul Kanda, 46, is accused of abetting him in making the amendments to the report.
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The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister's Department Complex at the Federal Government Administrative Centre in Putrajaya between Feb 22 and 26, 2016.
Both men were charged under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, which provides a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
