KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 5): The prosecution in the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial may put the troubled fund's former general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan on the stand as a witness come February 13.

Deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Ahmad Akram Gharib told judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah on Monday that the prosecution’s next witness will be Loo, as the trial was adjourned for the day after its current witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer Nur Aida Arifin had fallen ill and obtained a medical certificate to say she needs two days' rest.

“The next prosecution witness will be subpoenaed witness Jasmine Loo,” Ahmad Akram said.

Loo surrendered last year to authorities having been at large since 2018.

In September last year, the police said that Loo helped identify assets worth over RM93.2 million purchased using 1MDB monies. Loo is still being investigated by other agencies over 1MDB.

Following her return, Sequerah had disclosed that he and Loo were partners in Messrs Zain & Co more than a decade ago while the Court of Appeal (COA) judge was practising law.

This prompted the defence to apply to disqualify the judge, which was subsequently dismissed. The court ruled that the defence failed to show that there was a real danger of bias, adding that past associations such as employment history alone are insufficient indications of that bias. The defence is appealing this decision.

Loo has been named as a key figure in the 1MDB scandal. She is known to be a very close associate of the fugitive Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, who is also at large.

Sequerah had earlier issued an order to compel the doctor who issued the medical certificate to come to court and explain why Nur Aida was unable to attend proceedings.

The judge issued said order when he found that the medical certificate Nur Aida was given was not applicable to be used in court.

About an hour and a half later, after a recess had been called, Dr K Shanmuganathan from Poliklinik Primecare (Putrajaya) took the witness stand and confirmed that a second, properly worded MC was presented to the court.

The doctor then explained to Sequerah that Nur Aida was down with a fever, flu and cough, which could be contagious.

“She’s definitely not well to come to court. It is contagious. It’s an infectious flu,” he said.

The doctor said that it she needs at least a minimum of two days for the infectious stage of her flu and cough to pass.

The judge then vacated trial dates for Monday and Tuesday. Proceedings resume on Wednesday.

Najib was in the accused dock while all this was going on. During the court break while waiting for the doctor, Najib’s daughter Nooryana Najwa Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor were seen chatting with him in the public gallery.

This is Najib’s first public appearance in court since his prison sentence was commuted by the Pardons Board.

Najib was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison by the High Court over the RM42 million SRC International corruption case. He was also fined RM210 million. His conviction and punishments were upheld in the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court subsequently.

His sentence was reduced by the Pardons Board when it met last Monday.

In this trial, Najib faces 21 money laundering charges, He also faces four counts of abuse of power for using his position as then prime minister, finance minister and chairman of 1MDB’s board of advisers to receive gratifications worth RM2.28 billion.

The Edge is covering the trial live here.

Users of The Edge Markets app may tap here to access the live report.