KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has succeeded in his bid to get an Australian handwriting expert to verify his signatures on several contentious documents tendered as evidence in the SRC International Bhd trial.
High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali ruled that Najib's application should be allowed in the interest of justice and a fair trial.
He said Najib was entitled to introduce relevant evidence even if it is based on an afterthought.
"It is the duty of this court to uphold the constitutional right of the accused at all times," he said.
Nazlan also ruled that the prosecution will be allowed to call a rebuttal witness as provided under Section 425 of the Criminal Procedure Code if they wish to do so.
Mohd Nazlan ordered the defence to arrange for the expert to examine the documents within two days before Feb 3.
Najib, 66, is facing seven charges of misappropriating RM42 million of SRC International money. The company is a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
He faces up to 20-years jail if convicted of the offences.