KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's corruption trial involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds has been vacated as his lead counsel was not well.
Counsel Alaistair Brandah Norman, who appeared for Najib today, told the High Court that Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was suffering from a severe throat infection and was under the weather.
"The hospital gave him four days of medical leave starting today.
"Thus, we asked for today's proceedings to be vacated and for the hearing for Tuesday next week to be changed to case management.
"This is to give way for his judicial review proceedings to challenge the government's decision not to allow him to serve his constituency in Pekan," he said before judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustafa P. Kunyalam, who appeared for the prosecution, did not object to the application.
The court allowed the defence's application.
Najib, 69, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The former prime minister is now serving a 12-year jail sentence at the Kajang Prison after being found guilty of all seven charges relating to the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.