KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) has sought more time to consider Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah's application to strike out his RM6.6 billion criminal breach of trust (CBT) case.
In light of this, Deputy Public Prosecutor Muhammad Saifuddin Hashim Musaimi today asked the court for another date for case management.
"I received instruction from Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Idrus Harun to ask for another date for case management in September.
"The amount involved in this case is too big...we need more time to review the letter of representation from the accused," he said before High Court Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin.
Irwan is jointly charged with Datuk Seri Najib Razak for CBT involving RM6.6 billion in government funds for payments to the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).
The duo allegedly committed the offences at the Finance Ministry complex in Putrajaya between Dec 21, 2016, and Dec 18, 2017.
The six charges, under Section 409 of the Penal Code for CBT by a public servant or agent, carries a maximum 20 years' imprisonment, whipping and a fine upon conviction.
Najib's counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah did not object to the application.
However, Datuk K. Kumaraendran who appeared for Irwan, asked the court to fix an earlier date in July, stating that the case had been pending for five years.
The court then fixed Aug 9 for next case management.
On April 3, Saifuddin told the court that AGC had received a fresh representation letter from Irwan to have the charges against him reviewed.
He said the defence counsel had brought up a lot of new developments which would require the prosecution to verity them before making any decision.
On Feb 27, the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and Aabar Investments PJS agreed to pay US$1.8 billion to the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) and 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
This follows a settlement reached between the parties over their dispute regarding 1MDB.