National Feedlot Corporation executive chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail will apply for charges against him to dropped, a Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur heard today.

His counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the the High Court will hear the application of Mohamad Salleh ( left ) to strike out the charges on Sept 30.

The defence will also submit a letter of representation to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) for all four charges to be dropped, Shafee said in court.

As such, he applied for an adjournment of the trial pending the High Court hearing of the strike out application.

However, the request was turned down by presiding judge Norsharidah Awang, who said the trial will go on as scheduled from June 23 to 26.

Mohamad Salleh, who is the husband of former cabinet minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, was charged with two counts of criminal breach of trust and two counts of violating the Companies Act 1965.

Speaking to reporters later, Shafee ( right ) expressed dissatisfaction with the judge's decision, claiming it "went against the principle of stay".

"When the matter is still pending, and the stay principle has been established," he said when met outside the court.

Shafee said it would be ideal if the court adjourns the hearing to after the AGC decides on the defence's representation for the charges be dropped.

The defence will submit later today.

Prosecution to call about 70 witnesses

Meanwhile, deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud said the prosecution will call approximately 70 witnesses.

Armadajaya did not rule out the possibility of a minister being called to testify during the trial.

Meanwhile, assistant registrar Roslizawati Nur Wahidah, a prosecution witness from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), has verified that Salleh was the director of three companies related to the National Feedlot Corporation.

Salleh was appointed as director in Macronial Technology Sdn Bhd , BizVance Sdn Bhd and Real Food Sdn Bhd in August 2006, April 2008 and January 2010 respectively, testified the prosecution’s first witness.

National Meat and Livestock Company Sdn Bhd was formerly known as BizVance Sdn Bhd, while Real Food Company Sdn Bhd was formerly known as Macronial Technology Sdn Bhd.

Before the witness was able to verify a hundred documents as evidence, assisted by SSM’s prosecuting officer Mohamad Azies Han Mohd Fadzil, the court was forced to adjourn the hearing to give way to the hearing in the High Court brought by the defence to strike out the charges.

The AG’s Chamber was informed by the court that the latter plans to hear the defence’s appeal earlier than original date (Sept 30), said deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya.

“My office received a letter from the High Court that it has fixed the case management on June 26,” he said, adding that it plans to fix a hearing in July if possible.

“If the hearing is favourable to the accused, then the case will be solved, if not, the (Sessions Court) trial will continue,” he said.

Though the three-day hearing which started today was postponed, the judge maintained that the next trial date will be fixed for July 16 to 18 as scheduled before.