KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) corruption trial began today with the High Court being informed on the death of lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram.
Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Ahmad Akram Gharib stood up at the onset of the hearing and told Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah that Sri Ram had passed away yesterday.
He then sought to vacate the trial date for today and tomorrow for the prosecution team to attend the wake and cremation.
Describing Sri Ram as a father figure to all the DPPs, Akram said the team wanted to attend the wake and cremation in Shah Alam tomorrow.
"In light of the sudden demise of Sri Ram yesterday (Sunday), we humbly seek your lordship's indulgence to allow for an adjournment for today's proceeding as the team will have to discuss the redistribution of various focus of works vis-a-vis the witnesses.
"For tomorrow (adjournment), the wake is from morning until 1 pm for non-family members to pay their last respects.
"We have been informed that the cortege will leave at 2 pm for the cremation which will be held in Shah Alam.
"All of us are seeking your lordship's permission to vacate this matter to allow us to be there for both functions
"He was our leader and he was like a father to all of us. We would really like to be there," he said.
Najib's lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah did not object to the application.
"We would like to extend our condolences to the prosecution team," he said.
The court allowed the application and the hearing continues on Thursday.
Sri Ram, 79, a former Federal Court judge, was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a private hospital here last week for a lung infection.
He was the lead prosecutor in the 1MDB trial and also led the prosecution of Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, in cases involving corruption in a hybrid-solar power project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak and money laundering amounting to RM7 million.
Najib, 70, 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.