KUALA LUMPUR: The historic trial of Datuk Seri Najib Razak officially started today depsite a last minute attempt to delay it by filing a notice of motion to challenge his charges.
The application filed by the former premier's defence team at the 11th hour this morning however, did not stall the trial from commencing as High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali said he would fix another date to hear the matter.
Mohd Nazlan in ordering for the trial to proceed said there is no requirement for the application to be heard now since it was only filed this morning.
At the beginning of the proceedings which started at 2.10pm, Attorney General (AG) Tommy Thomas told the court that the defence had filed an application to challenge the charges only this morning and therefore the entire trial was being challenged.
“There can be no other inference, it is intended to delay the trial yet again and it should not be countenanced by the court.
"This application should wait for its turn to be heard but not today thank you," he said.
Earlier, Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who led the defence for Najib told the court that they had filed a notice of motion to challenge the charges faced by the former prime minister.
The defence held that the accused is open to file such application to protect his interest.
Meanwhile, deputy public prosecutor Datuk V Sithambaram said the charges against Najib was valid and correct and that it would not prejudice the accused.
Najib who was sitting inside the dock was seen giving full attention to the submissions by the counsel.
The 11-page opening statement was read by Thomas at 3pm before the first witness was called.
In the statement, Thomas said the prosecution will prove that the monies were remitted into Najib's private bank account for home renovations, purchase of luxury bags and to fund Barisan Nasional component parties.
The first witness Muhamad Akmaludin Abdullah, 35, who is the assistant registrar of the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) is currently testifying in the witness dock.
Najib faces seven charges relating to criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering involving RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds.
