The Malaysian Insight

NAJIB Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd trial will resume only on Tuesday, as the former prime minister has obtained two days’ medical leave due to conjunctivitis.

Lead defence lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah confirmed this with The Malaysian Insight.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah’s chambers have been informed of the matter.

Yesterday, Sequerah adjourned proceedings after being told that Najib is suffering from the eye infection, the second time in less than a month.

Shafee told the judge that his client contracted conjunctivitis again because of the current poor air quality.

“I got a call at 7.15am from my client and his wife. (His) conjunctivitis has returned, and I think it’s because of an outing that he went on, and the haze does not help.”

He said Najib had an appointment with a specialist at 10.30am yesterday, and assured Sequerah that a medical report will be presented to the judge’s chambers.

“Conjunctivitis is very contagious. I suppose tomorrow’s (today’s) hearing is out of the question.”

Yesterday, lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram told Sequerah that his team will recall five or six witnesses for identification.

“We cannot conduct the identification in the absence of the accused. We… have to wait for the medical report.”

The judge allowed the adjournment, and requested that proceedings take place on subsequent Fridays as replacements.

“It is unfortunate… Maybe we can have proceedings on Fridays to accommodate the accused’s medical condition.”

Shafee and Sri Ram both said they would not be able to make it for 1MDB hearings on Fridays as they have other clients’ cases to attend to. – September 12, 2019.