KUALA LUMPUR (May 19): Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial resumes today after almost seven months.

Proceedings today will begin at 2pm and will likely end slightly after 4pm as Muslims are currently observing the Ramadan fasting month.

There will also be strict social distancing measures in place for members of the media and others seated in the public gallery.

The defence led by Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah is expected to continue the cross-examination of former 1MDB chief executive officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi.

A key witness in the case, Shahrol first took the witness stand in September 2019.

He took six days to read and explain his 270-page witness statement, during which he explained how decision-making in 1MDB was carried out when it conducted its business from 2009 to 2014.

He served as the strategic development fund's chief between 2009 and 2013, and was a board member until 2016.

When quizzed by the prosecution, Shahrol said Najib's approval was needed for 1MDB's loans and business dealings that related to financial matters, in line with 1MDB's memorandum and articles of association.

He said the US$250 million (about RM1.05 billion) loan obtained by 1MDB Energy Holdings Ltd, a unit of 1MDB, and another US$975 million loan that was used for the buy-back of options granted to Abu Dhabi-based Aabar Investments PJS in 2012 received approval from the former premier.

The loan, Shahrol said, was secured ahead of 1MDB Energy's planned initial public offering. The IPO, however, eventually fell through.

He also cited several occasions where approvals for the troubled state investment fund's ventures were fast-tracked, sometimes with the greenlight obtained in a matter of days.

When the trial last left off, Shafee said he had finished 60% of his cross-examination of Shahrol and would complete the remaining 40% expediently.

In this 1MDB-Tanore trial, Najib is facing four charges of abusing his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion, and 21 charges of money laundering involving RM4.3 billion.

The Edge is covering the trial live here.

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