KUALA LUMPUR: The RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial at the High Court involving Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been vacated for the week as the former prime minister is still warded at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).

His lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah that Najib had gone through various medical tests on a daily basis at the hospital due to his stomach ulcers and blood pressure issues.

Muhammad Shafee said he was finally able to meet his client after waiting at the hospital for almost three hours.

“He (Najib) does not know how long he is going to be at the ward.

“There is a medical certificate (MC) that was provided by the Prison Department and sent to Muhammad Farhan (another lawyer in Najib’s defence team) by WhatsApp.

“It is based on a medical examination and the MC is for Sept 14 and 15,” he said here yesterday.

Muhammad Shafee also informed the court that Najib’s blood pressure had stabilised after taking his usual prescription.

However, his blood pressure was not as satisfactory as it had not returned to normal, Muhammad Shafee said.

“I must also inform your lordship that my client has had a history of very bad ulcers and didn’t realise three months ago that he was at a critical stage.

“Recently, as Yang Arif knows, he went to hospital because he complained of discomfort and they found numerous ulcers that were bleeding.

“I think for that reason he was being tested to ensure his blood pressure had nothing to do with that, but perhaps a mere contingency of the medicine,” he added.

Justice Sequerah then asked if Najib’s condition would improve by next week as the hearing was scheduled to resume on Sept 26.

“I hope he gets better by then (Sept 26),” Muhammad Shafee said, optimistic that Najib would get better by then.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said the prosecution had no objection to this week’s trial being vacated as the MC came from a government medical officer.

When met by reporters, Muhammad Shafee said Najib was still experiencing discomfort due to his condition.

“The doctors have restored his medicine to the original one (which Najib usually takes). The previous medicine and the amount was given in the correct dosage, but the one he is used to is the original one and not a generic.

“Contrary to what was said in the news, the generic might not be as effective as the original,” the lawyer said.

According to Muhammad Shafee, Najib’s latest blood pressure reading at the hospital was 124/84, compared to his usual reading of 110/80.

He also said there was no indication whether Najib would be transferred to the National Heart Institute.

“He has no medical condition relating to his heart per se, but because it (stomach ulcer) causes bleeding, it can really go into a heart issue, which can lead to stroke,” he said.

On Monday, the hearing for 1MDB trial was cut short to half a day as Najib was unwell, said to be caused by a change in his blood pressure medication.

Justice Sequerah allowed for the proceedings to last half a day for Najib to seek medical attention, where he was then hospitalised the same day.

Najib, 69, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.28bil from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.