Deputy public prosecutor Allan Suman Pillai said a three-day trial scheduled to begin today before sessions court Judge Rozilah Salleh was vacated due to the two-week lockdown which started on June 1.

“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the 20-day trial will begin next month and continue in August,” he told FMT.

Nasharudin is accused of 14 counts of CBT and three counts of money laundering totalling RM3.65 million.

About 30 prosecution witnesses are expected to testify in the trial.

FMT understands that Nasharudin’s legal team led by Mohd Shukri Ahmad Mansor had made several representations to the attorney-general’s chambers but these were rejected.

On Oct 19, 2019, he had claimed trial to 33 charges of money laundering and CBT amounting to RM4 million.

However, last November, the former MP for Yan and Bachok was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on 16 counts of CBT for dishonestly accepting RM321,273.80 in total as salary for being Nassar Foundation chairman between 2015 and 2018.

Nasharudin was PAS deputy president from 2005 to 2013. He was sacked from the Islamist party over statements critical of the party and for being absent from meetings.

He became close to Najib Razak long before the coming together of Umno and PAS, and had accompanied the former prime minister on his visit to Gaza in Palestine.