News by Hafiz Yatim

The prosecution's fifth witness, Nor Salwani, said today she had printed out 60 copies of the final draft of the 1MDB audit report, and on Feb 22, 2016, gave Ambrin six copies to hand out to Najib, the former premier's chief private secretary Tan Sri Shukry Mohd Salleh, Ali, Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad from the Attorney General's Chambers, and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy.

"At the end, we agree there should not be two or three (different) versions of the 1MDB audit report. Whatever final version that existed, that should stand."

Ali can be heard saying in the audio recording that the meeting is held to go through the audit report and verify certain things.

This was revealed by former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa, who is the fourth prosecution witness in the 1MDB audit report tampering trial.

"Najib instructed me to hold a coordination meeting between the National Audit Department and former 1MDB chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy and other officers."

The Federal Court judge said a purposive reading of Article 132 reflects the administrative structure envisaged for the governance and operation of the Federation, and not to determine who can be held liable for misfeasance while holding public office.

“There were passages in that report that caused concern to Najib though they were true in fact ... He took positive steps to have those passages altered or removed ... Despite the report was ready to be placed before the PAC in Parliament, a meeting was convened on Feb 24, 2016 at Najib’s behest ... As a result of what transpired at that meeting, the relevant passages were amended or removed.”

"It seemed (Najib's) defence is pre-planning to postpone the defence in the other (SRC trial). I am suggesting as affirmed in paragraph 20 (Najib) is not telling the whole truth."

"An application has been filed so that the court could consider for Najib's lawyers to prepare his defence in the SRC case," said sources on both sides on condition of anonymity.

Umno Kedah is among 41 entities which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had filed forfeiture suits against to recover assets linked to 1MDB.