PUTRAJAYA: The High Court has fixed Dec 26 to deliver its decision in Datuk Seri Najib Razak‘s graft trial involving the misappropriation of RM2.28bil from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah set the date after submissions ended in the case here on Friday (Oct 31).
This is despite Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah asking for a time extension to complete the defence’s submissions.
“I know the submissions will resume on Nov 4 but at this moment I will deliver my decision on Dec 26, at 9am,” Justice Sequerah said.
The hearing in the trial spanned 302 days, including three Saturdays.
The prosecution’s trial began Aug 28, 2019 and its final day was on May 30, 2024.
On Oct 30, last year, the High Court ordered Najib to enter his defence over the charges.
Najib took the stand as the first defence witness on Dec 2, 2024.
Defence witnesses included former 1MDB chairman Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamarudin, and the sister of Terengganu’s Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Tengku Datuk Rahimah Sultan Mahmud.
Najib is facing four counts of using his position to obtain RM2.28bil gratification from 1MDB’s funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same amount.
The abuse of power offences were allegedly committed at an AmIslamic Bank Bhd branch, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon between Feb 24, 2011 and Dec 19, 2014.
Meanwhile, the money laundering offences were allegedly committed at the same location between March 22 and Aug 30, 2013.
Najib is currently serving his prison sentence since Aug 23, 2022, after being convicted in a separate criminal trial over the misappropriation of RM42mil from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
