Arul Kanda’s cross-examination postponed after Najib’s lawyer Shafee loses his voice

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today postponed the cross-examination of former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy in the 1MDB audit tampering trial as Najib Razak’s lead counsel was unwell.

Another of Najib’s lawyers, Rahmat Hazlan, when contacted said today’s proceedings were vacated to to Aug 12 because Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had developed laryngitis, which made him lose his voice.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustaffa P Kunyalam confirmed the matter and said the trial would resume on Aug 12 before judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.

Today was initially scheduled for the cross-examination of Arul Kanda, 45, who was charged together with Najib in the 1MDB audit tampering trial.

On June 24, Zaini allowed the prosecution’s application to call Arul Kanda as a witness in the trial, under Section 63 of the Malaysian-Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.

Najib, 68, is charged with using his position to order amendments to the final 1MDB audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee to avoid any action being taken against him.

Arul Kanda is charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments to the report to protect Najib from being subjected to action.

The offence was allegedly committed at the Prime Minister’s Department Complex, Federal Government Administrative Centre, Putrajaya between Feb 22 and 26, 2016.

They were charged under Section 23 (1) of the MACC Act 2009, which provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction.