News by Hafiz Yatim

Justice Sequerah will decide on his own today whether to start the 1MDB case today as the Federal Court last week did not allow the postponement of the trial.

The judge also dismissed the Ministry and government's cross-appeal over the quantum of RM11.26 million awarded in general damages and ordered them to pay RM15,000 costs to The Edge Communications.

However, the five-member bench led by Chief Justice Datuk Seri Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat ruled that the defence and prosecution would have to take it up with High Court trial judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Aug 19 itself whether they want to proceed with the case on that day.

If convicted, the duo stand to face a maximum 20 years jail term and a minimum fine of RM10,000 or five times the amount of graft received.

R Kenghadaran, who was also a former Hindraf leader who was detained under the now-defunct Internal Security Act, filed the suit at the High Court yesterday.

Husni, who is the first Cabinet minister from Najib's cabinet to testify in the trial, provided insight into how the ministry is run especially concerning 1Malaysia Development Bhd and SRC.

This follows the decision today by a seven-member bench led by Chief Justice (CJ) Datuk Seri Tengku Maimum Tuan Mat to dismiss Najib's appeal to bar Sri Ram from leading the prosecution in the case, which is scheduled to start this Aug 19.

Ahmad Husni said 1MDB and SRC matters were off limits to him.

Yayasan Penyelidikan Transformasi is also known as the Transformation Research Foundation while K&Z is a fabric supplier to the government.

"This follows the High Court being prepared to accommodate the parties' schedules when necessary. The parties [prosecution and defence] are at liberty to apply [for postponement before the trial judge] should the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial fail to conclude," the court ruled.