Najib's lawyer to receive his COVID-19 test result this evening

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 -- The lead counsel for former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad trial, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, will know whether he has tested positive or negative for COVID-19, this evening.

Lawyer Noor Farhah Mustaffa who appeared for Muhammad Shafee, told High Court Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that both Muhammad Shafee and his wife Tania Scivetti, and the entire defence team, were in self-quarantine pending the test result.

"Muhammad Shafee and his wife Tania Scivetti (who is also a lawyer on the defence team) took the test yesterday at 4pm at KPJ Damansara. They were advised to self-quarantine until the test results come out this evening," she said.

Yesterday, the trial was vacated after the court was informed that Muhammad Shafee's sister-in-law had had close contact with a COVID-19 patient and she in turn had contact with Muhammad Shafee on March 12.

Meanwhile, Noor Farhah also provided a letter from KPJ Damansara and an isolation notice from the Health Ministry for Muhammad Shafee’s sister-in-law, dated March 12, as per the request of the court. 

"My Lord, according to this notice, she (Muhammad Shafee’s sister-in-law) was ordered to be quarantined from March 11 to 25. She will find out her test result this evening or tomorrow morning," she added.

Judge Sequerah then told the lawyer that if both Muhammad Shafee and Tania Scivetti tested negative for the virus, he asked to be informed of the matter on Monday so that trial could continue on Thursday.

When the hearing resumes, Muhammad Shafee is expected to continue cross-examining the ninth prosecution witness, former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi. 

Najib, 67, faces four charges of abusing his position to obtain gratification totalling RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds and 21 counts of money laundering involving the same funds.

-- BERNAMA