MACC probe papers on judge Nazlan not with AGC: Idrus

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation papers into appellate judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali are not with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), said Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun.

“It is not with us. I don’t know. It is not with us,” he was quoted as saying by Malay Mail when met at the sidelines of the Keluarga Malaysia event in Putrajaya today.

On Thursday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan urged MACC to make clear whether there was a case against Nazlan, while the AGC should state if further action would be taken on investigation papers that were submitted.

This follows developments in Najib’s final appeal in the Federal Court on his SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption conviction, wherein the apex court refused his application to adduce new evidence pertaining to alleged conflict of interest involving Nazlan.

On May 21, MACC in a statement said it was up to the AGC seeing that the anti-graft agency had completed its investigation into Nazlan, including collecting relevant evidence in accordance with established guidelines and procedures.

Nazlan was the presiding high court judge in former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court that commenced in April 2019 and delivered the guilty verdict in July 2020.

He was also the judge who convicted and sentenced Najib on charges relating to RM42 million belonging to SRC International in July 2020. 

Lawyers Nur Ain Mustapa and Sreekant Pillai, and activist Haris Ibrahim had also filed an originating summons early this month against the government to determine constitutional issues relating to separation of powers and judiciary independence.

They also named MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki, the anti-graft agency, and the government as defendants.

MACC was heavily criticised after it launched an investigation into Nazlan, with senior lawyers and politicians warning that it was an attack on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. 

The investigation on Nazlan was launched after three separate complaints were lodged on March 14, April 23, and April 27. – The Vibes, August 21, 2022