KUALA LUMPUR: Jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will be testifying as the 23rd prosecution witness against Tan Sri Shahrir Samad on January 5 next year.
Najib, 69, was initially scheduled to testify before High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin at the trial today.
However, he told the court this morning that he is still not ready to testify.
He said he is not ready to give any statement orally without the presence of his lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah as the watching brief in today's proceeding.
"I am requesting to give my statement (as a witness) on January 5. My lawyer will be here, then," Najib said when he took the witness stand briefly this morning.
Deputy public prosecutor Rasyidah Murni Azmi requested for Najib to explain further on his lawyer's whereabouts.
Najib replied that Muhammad Shafee is currently outstation.
Rasyidah then request the judge's discretion to decide on the matter, to which Muhammad Jamil allowed Najib's request.
Today's proceeding in the money-laundering trial continues with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Superintendent Assistant Nurzahidah Yacop, who is the 22nd prosecution witness, being cross-examined by Shahrir's lawyer Datuk Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros.
Shahrir, 72, is on trial for failing to declare the RM1 million he allegedly received from Najib to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), nine years ago.
He was accused of not stating his actual income in the Income Tax Return Form for Assessment Year 2013, which violates Section 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967.
He allegedly committed the offence at the IRB office Duta branch on April 25, 2014.
The offence falls under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 which carries a maximum fine of RM5 million or a maximum five-year jail term, or both, if convicted.
The trial before High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin continues.