Najib Razak and Irwan Serigar Abdullah's RM6.6 Billion CBT Trial Begins in Kuala Lumpur

The highly anticipated criminal breach of trust (CBT) trial involving former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former Treasury Secretary-General Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah commenced at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 4, 2024. However, the trial has been postponed to June 19, 2024, to allow the defense more time to prepare.

Najib, 70, and Irwan, 66, face six charges of CBT involving RM6.6 billion in government funds. The charges relate to payments made to the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) between December 21, 2016, and December 18, 2017. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges on October 25, 2018.

This trial has significant implications for Malaysia's political and legal framework, as it involves high-ranking officials and large sums of government funds. The outcome could lead to changes in the country's governance and accountability mechanisms.

The trial dates were initially fixed on September 15, 2023, by Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin. The court allocated the entire months of June and July 2024 for the trial, excluding Fridays. The trial will now begin on June 19, 2024, after the defense teams requested more time to review documents.

Lawyers Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Datuk K. Kumaraendran, representing Najib and Irwan respectively, argued that they had not received all necessary documents from the prosecution. Shafee Abdullah noted, "This is distracting me in the sense there is a lot of work to be done." Kumaraendran added, "We were served with the 48 witness statements and upon checking the statements, we found to date there were over 100 missing documents."

Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Saifuddin Hashim Musaimi did not object to the postponement, acknowledging the complexity of the case and the volume of documents involved. Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin granted the postponement to ensure a fair trial.

Najib and Irwan are charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years' jail and whipping, plus a fine upon conviction. The charges stem from allegations that the duo misused government funds intended for IPIC.

This trial is part of a series of legal challenges faced by Najib. He is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence and a RM210 million fine for his conviction over the misappropriation of SRC International's RM42 million funds. The trial's outcome is highly anticipated, given its potential impact on Malaysia's political and legal landscape.

Key Takeaways

• Najib Razak and Irwan Serigar face 6 charges of criminal breach of trust involving RM6.6 billion.
• The trial, initially set for June 4, 2024, has been postponed to June 19, 2024, to allow defense more time.
• The charges relate to payments made to IPIC between 2016 and 2017.
• The trial's outcome could lead to changes in Malaysia's governance and accountability mechanisms.
• Najib and Irwan face up to 20 years' jail and whipping, plus a fine, if convicted.