KUALA LUMPUR: All eyes will be trained on the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Jalan Duta here as the corruption trial of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak begins today.
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.
The trial, to begin at 2pm, will be presided by High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.
The courts complex was a hive of activity yesterday, with last-minute preparations being made ahead of the high-profile trial.
Security will also be tight, with the police out in full force and stationed around the complex throughout the proceedings.
Sentul police chief Assistant Commissioner S. Shanmugamoorthy Chinniah, however, said it would be “business as usual” for the police as they were trained to handle any situation.
The media, meanwhile, will be subjected to stringent checks, with inspections to be conducted at the main entrance to the complex prior to Najib’s arrival in court.
Space for coverage will be at a premium, given the level of interest in the case. Media personnel have to obtain special passes to access the courtroom, located on the fifth floor of the complex’s right wing.
Those unable to enter the courtroom could view the proceedings via a live video feed, which will be broadcast at the Sessions Court 2 on the fourth floor of the right wing.
It is understood that 100 passes will be issued for local and foreign media to access the courtroom and video-link room.
The trial is expected to see the attendance of supporters from both sides, who are expected to flood the complex’s compound.
Najib’s arrival in court is expected to trigger a surge from the press horde, who will be clamouring to snap pictures and videos.
As seen during past court appearances, Najib is usually accompanied to court by his special officer, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and son Ashman.
Meanwhile, the Federal Court yesterday set tomorrow to hear Najib’s application for review against the lifting of the order to stay his trial involving the SRC International funds.
On the same day, the Federal Court will hear four other appeals, three by Najib and one by the prosecution.
Najib lost three of four appeals at the Court of Appeal regarding his request for additional documents, a gag order to prevent the media and public from discussing the merits of his case and on the attorney-general’s move to withdraw his certificate to transfer seven charges from the Sessions Court to the High Court.
The Court of Appeal, on March 21, however, allowed Najib’s appeal to have the prosecution produce the appointment letter of ad-hoc prosecutor Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah to the defence.
On March 27, the seven-man bench of the Federal Court led by Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum lifted the stay of the trial granted by the Court of Appeal to Najib pending disposal of his appeals over interlocutory matters.
His case was remitted to the High Court in Kuala Lumpur before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, who subsequently fixed April 3 for trial.