FORMER prime minister Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd trial will begin on May 14 and take up a further five days next month, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled today. 

The trial dates for next month were fixed for May 14, 15, 17, 28, 29 and 31. 

Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah did not allow a request by Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, to have his RM9.5 million money-laundering trial begin first, saying he is prioritising the 1MDB trial.

The court also fixed June 10 to 21 as 1MDB trial dates, vacating the remaining of Shafee’s contempt case dates.

Sequerah is presiding over Shafee’s money-laundering case. Shafee is Najib’s lead counsel.

Najib is facing 21 charges of money laundering and four charges of abuse of power in relation to RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram did not object to the dates. 

Najib’s SRC International trial, in which he faces seven criminal charges, began on Wednesday and will resume on April 15. 

That trial is scheduled to proceed until May 10. 

Present today was Najib, who did not speak to reporters. 

Serving as watching brief were Roger Chan and Rajsurian Pillai from the Malaysian Bar. 

Regarding Shafee’s contempt case, Sequerah today fixed April 16 for mention.

Shafee had, in September, claimed trial to four money-laundering charges over the transfer of RM9.5 million into his bank account between August 2013 and January 2014.

Shafee is also accused of making false declarations to the Inland Revenue Board for the same amount between March and June 2015. – April 5, 2019.