KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been given a two-day medical leave following his inability to attend his RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial due to diarrhoea.
The High Court had to postpone the trial, which was supposed to take place the entire week till tomorrow.
Kajang Prison medical officer Dr Mohd Hafiz Mohd Hoshni, who was summoned to the court to give an explanation over Najib’s absence yesterday, told the High Court that he was informed of Najib’s condition at 7.15am.
During questioning by deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib, Dr Mohd Hafiz said he had met with Najib, who complained of stomach pain and nausea, and was told that Najib went to the toilet four times.
“I gave him some medication but his condition remained the same after 10 minutes.
“I did a check-up and found that he lacked water and had a mild fever of 37.8°C,” he said.
The doctor said Najib was then referred to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) at around 9.30am looking lethargic and dehydrated.
To a question by Najib’s lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Dr Mohd Hafiz said Najib had diarrhoea since Monday, and he was referred to HKL for better treatment.
“He is unfit to attend trial as he was given drips, and is unable to stand or sit for long,” the doctor said.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah then postponed the trial to tomorrow.
Najib, 70, is facing four charges of abusing his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.28bil in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same money.
