{
  "id": 3498639,
  "title": "15 ‘no comment’ replies from ex-1MDB CEO irk defence lawyer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/15-no-comment-replies-from-ex-1mdb-ceo-irk-defence-lawyer",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T11:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/26/15-no-comment-replies-from-ex-1mdb-ceo-irks-defence-lawyer"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi repeatedly answered \"no comment\" when questioned by defense lawyers during a High Court hearing related to a US$5.64 billion civil suit. Senior counsel GK Ganesan, representing former 1MDB investment director Kelvin Tan, sought the court to compel Halmi to answer questions, arguing that his repeated \"no comment\" responses were unhelpful in seeking the truth. Ganesan cited Sections 132, 146, and 148(2)(c) of the Evidence Act 1950, emphasizing that a witness must answer questions that could lead to civil or criminal liability, and that the witness's refusal to answer could be inferred as unfavorable. The application was supported by Shafee Abdullah, representing former Prime Minister Najib Razak. The court's decision on the matter will be made in the upcoming hearing.",
  "summary": "Senior counsel GK Ganesan asks court to direct Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi to answer questions put to him.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}