THE RM6.6 billion criminal breach of trust (CBT) trial involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, which was scheduled to commence today, has been postponed to June 19.

High Court judge Datuk Muhammad Jamil Hussin adjourned the proceedings to give time for both parties to sort out documents that will be used for the trial, ensuring that all necessary evidence is properly organised and presented.

“The trial will start on June 19,” he ruled.

The court previously fixed 30 days between today and July 31 for trial.

Lawyer K Kumaraendran, appearing for Irwan, told the high court here that the defence teams had not received a full set of trial documents.

“We can’t prepare our defences (without these documents),” he told the judge.

Shafee Abdullah, representing Najib, told the court that the defence teams were informed that additional documents will be served to them today.

Deputy public prosecutor Saifuddin Hashim Musaimi said the prosecution had no objection to the request for postponement.

“I have to admit that there are many documents,” he said.

Najib and Irwan pleaded not guilty to six charges of CBT totalling RM6.6 billion in government funds involving payments to IPIC on October 25, 2018.

Najib and Irwan were jointly accused of committing all the offences at the Finance Ministry Complex, Putrajaya between December 21, 2016 and December 18, 2017.

Both were charged under Section 409 of the Penal Code read together with Section 34 of the same code which provides for a maximum of 20 years’ jail and whipping as well as a fine upon conviction. – June 4, 2024.