KUALA LUMPUR (May 20): The prosecution in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) audit report tampering trial on Friday (May 20) made a formal application at the High Court here to seek former 1MDB president and chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy's presence as a prosecution witness in the case which involves ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram, who made the application before High Court Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan, said the prosecution is making the application as Arul Kanda, who is an accused in the case, has information about transactions made by the other accused Najib.

Sri Ram said the 1MDB-related transaction information that Arul Kanda has will materially affect the outcome of the prosecution against Najib, who is the former chairman of 1MDB's board of advisers.

"Hence, this is relevant against the other accused (Najib)," Sri Ram said.

According to Sri Ram, Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun has sanctioned the application to call Arul Kanda to become a prosecution witness in the case.

"The prosecution is making the application under Section 63 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009," Sri Ram said.

Najib's lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah indicated to the court that the defence is objecting to the application to have Arul Kanda become a prosecution witness and that the defence will make submissions against the application which is deemed unconstitutional.

Judge Mohamed Zaini subsequently fixed May 30, 2022 to hear submissions on the matter.

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/1mdb-audit-report-tampering-trial-arul-kanda-sought-prosecution-witness