KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak will know on Oct 30 whether he has to enter his defence or walk away a free man in the RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case.
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah fixed the date after submissions at the end of the prosecution's case were completed here at the High Court on Thursday (Oct 3).
"I thank parties for the well-researched and thorough submissions.
"The decision, I will deliver on Oct 30," he said.
Submissions at the end of the prosecution's case began on Aug 18 and lasted 12 days.
Najib, 71, is on trial for 25 charges in total - four for abuse of power that allegedly brought him the financial benefit to the tune of RM2.28bil; and 21 for money laundering involving the same amount of money.
The four counts of power abuse were framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act (MACC) 2009 which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to five times the amount or gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.
For the 21 charges of money laundering, Najib is charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (AMLATFA), which carries a maximum fine of RM5mil and imprisonment for up to five years, or both, upon conviction.
The prosecution trial ran over six years in the span of more than 200 days.
Najib was first charged at the Sessions Court on Sept 20, 2018.
The case was later transferred to the High Court on Oct 31, the same year. The trial began on Aug 28, 2019.
A total of 50 prosecution witnesses testified. Some of the key witnesses that testified were former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former 1MDB CEO Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, former 1MDB Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh, and 1MDB former general counsel, Jasmine Loo.
