KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution is expected to call 25 witnesses to testify in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's RM27 million money laundering trial.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said the prosecution needs at least three months to prepare the witness statements and serve it to the defence team.
"We are in the midst of preparing the witness statements... we already informed the defence team that we need more time.
"Not all the witnesses are in the Klang Valley," he said before High Court Judge K. Muniandy today.
Muniandy then asked the prosecution to expedite its preparation and ordered for all statements to be served before May 20.
He also fixed May 27 for the next case management.
Meanwhile, Ashrof informed the court that the Attorney-General's Chambers has yet to decide on Najib's representation seeking to drop the charges.
On Jan 19, Muniandy said Najib can apply for discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) or discharge and acquittal (DAA) during the trial slated in September.
He said the former prime minister can argue this case if the prosecution has yet to decide on his representation letter for a review of all charges.
The court has fixed five days - Sept 17, 18, 19, and Sept 23, 24 for the trial date.
On Feb 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial to three charges of money laundering by accepting proceeds from illegal activities amounting to RM27 million through his three AmPrivate Banking accounts.
He allegedly committed all the offences at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, AmBank Group Building, No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan on July 8, 2014, under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
He faces a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, if convicted.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence in Kajang Prison after the Federal Court had on Aug 23, 2022, upheld the conviction and jail term and a fine of RM210 million against him after finding him guilty of misappropriating SRC International Sdn Bhd funds amounting to RM42 million.
