KUALA LUMPUR – Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo today urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to clarify whether the facts in reports lodged against Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali had been verified prior to launching its investigation.
On Saturday, it was reported that MACC had launched an investigation against Nazlan after it received complaints regarding allegations of unexplained money in his account.
Nazlan was the presiding judge in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. Najib was found guilty and sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million.
The former leader has denied all wrongdoing and is appealing his sentence.
Gobind said the onus falls on the agency’s chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to respond to criticism that their probe on Nazlan is akin to an attack on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.
“Tan Sri Azam Baki must state whether the commission verified matters stated in reports against the judge. If this has not been done, he cannot yet be probed since there is nothing yet to investigate as the basis of the complaint has not been established,” he said.
Gobind said Section 29(3) of the MACC act requires that an officer have reason to suspect an offence under the law following a report being lodged before launching an investigation as provided for under the act and the Criminal Procedure Code.
He said the provision was put in place to ensure that complaints have a basis before any probe is launched against persons named in reports filed with MACC.
“This is a matter of great public concern and importance as the regulation is clear and fixes an obligation on MACC, which is an important prerequisite to investigations against a person,” said Gobind, who is also DAP deputy chairman.
Yesterday, MACC defended its decision to investigate Nazlan, saying it is empowered to conduct investigations on any public officers, including judges. – The Vibes, April 29, 2022
