KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz is yet to testify at Datuk Seri Najib Razak's RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial here on Wednesday (July 26).
After much anticipation, the former Bank Negara governor ended up not taking the stand as the defence had not concluded its cross-examination of the 44th prosecution witness, Kevin Michael Swampillai.
The hearing ended at 4.30pm with Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informing the court that he would still need to cross Swampillai.
However, it is understood that Zeti, who is the 46th prosecution witness, would still have to come to the courthouse on Thursday (July 27).
Earlier, Zeti was seen entering the court complex at 1.55pm, marking her first appearance at the 1MDB trial.
Wearing a long loose dress in dark blue, Zeti was accompanied by several individuals, presumably her staff.
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She was subpoenaed to attend the trial in the afternoon as a prosecution witness in the event that the cross-examination of Swampillai could not continue as Muhammad Shafee was absent during the morning session.
However, Muhammad Shafee appeared in court in the afternoon when proceedings began at around 3pm.
The lawyer told the court he had a massive headache in the morning and apologised to the court for his absence.
He then continued his cross-examination of Swampillai, who is the former BSI Bank wealth management services head.
Zeti's name was first mentioned in the 1MDB trial late last year.
In October 2022, the late lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram informed the court that the prosecution would be calling Zeti to testify after her name came up during a cross-examination of witness Cheah Tek Kuang by Muhammad Shafee.
Muhammad Shafee was asking Cheah, who was a former managing director at AmBank, about Zeti’s connection with fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, who is better known as Jho Low.
Several other questions also touched on Zeti and this prompted Sri Ram to interject and tell the court that the prosecution intended to call Zeti.
"We are calling Zeti so these questions can be addressed to her. She’s got the answer," he said.
