KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak returned to the High Court as scheduled this morning to resume trial for the alleged theft of over RM2.2 billion funds from sovereign investment firm 1MDB.
The disgraced former prime minister who is now serving a 12-year prison sentence for the theft of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd had been admitted to Hospital Kuala Lumpur yesterday for a medical check-up.
His lead lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters at the court complex here that Najib had a health scare but is now doing well after undergoing the check-up and had been prescribed medication.
“I can tell you, he is concerned, because about a couple of months ago, he had internal bleeding caused by ulcer. His haemoglobin went down to something like 4.7, your normal is 16. So the doctor said that was a situation that you could have got a stroke, because the haemoglobin level... not because of anything, because it was bleeding without him knowing.
“So whenever he feels uncomfortable and last night was one such incident yesterday, in his stomach, so that’s why they send him for a total check-up,” the lawyer said in reply to questions from reporters during a break in the trial.
Shafee also said that Najib was not hospitalised overnight but had been admitted for the day.
“The whole day he was there, they put him in a room, so all the tests were run.”
Asked about Najib’s health now, the lawyer said: “The current situation, they have given him some medication, so once they give you medication, that means there’s a problem lah, but he’s OK.”
Asked if Najib has to return to the hospital even though he has been given medication, Shafee indicated that this would be up to the doctors and the test results.
Shafee also confirmed that a petition for pardon had been filed last Friday on behalf of Najib in relation to the latter’s SRC International conviction.
Asked further if a review application has been filed for SRC International, Shafee replied: “When it’s filed, you will know.”
He declined to comment further on that matter.
Najib was imprisoned on August 23 after the Federal Court upheld his conviction, 12-year prison sentence and RM210 million fine for embezzlement of public funds in SRC International.
However, Najib still has the option of filing for an application to have a fresh panel of judges to review the a five-judge panel Federal Court decision.
Najib was brought to court from Kajang Prison in a convoy of vehicles under police escort at about 8.45am.
His 1MDB trial is scheduled to last until Thursday this week.
Before trial started today, Najib — who was dressed in a black pinstripe suit and a dark brown tie with white stripes — was seen inside the courtroom sipping on a drink from the coffee chain Gloria Jeans, which has an outlet in the court complex.
While he was seated in the public gallery, his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who was wearing a white pantsuit with blue patterns, entered the courtroom at around 9.20am and spoke to him.
At about 9.30am, Najib was seen eating from a food pack handed over by his aide. Shafee was later seen passing Najib a book titled “This Green and Pleasant Land” by Ayisha Malek.
Trial today before High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah started at 9.46am and ended slightly past 12.30pm for the morning session. The trial will continue this afternoon.
Rosmah was seen sitting in the courtroom throughout most of the trial today.
Najib's sons, Datuk Mohd Nizar and Norashman, were also seen in the court complex outside the courtroom today, with Norashman later also attending part of the afternoon session of the trial.
The 1MDB trial resumes tomorrow, with Najib's lawyer Wan Aizuddin Wan Mohammed expected to continue cross-examining the 26th prosecution witness Datuk Siti Zauyah Md Desa.
