KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s bid to disqualify Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram as prosecutor in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) audit tampering case trial will be heard tomorrow at the high court as scheduled.
On January 12, the Federal Court Chief Registrar’s Office in a statement said all hearings of criminal cases in open court initially scheduled from January 13 until 26 are to be postponed following the re-implementation of the movement control order (MCO).
This resulted in high-profile trials, including Najib’s and his former deputy, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s, being postponed, as their previously scheduled trial dates fell within the MCO period.
On January 20, Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat issued a directive stating that despite the enforcement of the MCO, all criminal case proceedings – including public interest ones, such as corruption and commercial crime – will continue to be conducted in open court from tomorrow.
Based on the judicial website, Najib’s 1MDB case hearing is set for tomorrow at 9.30am before justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
Deputy public prosecutor, Mohamad Mustaffa P. Kunyalam, when contacted, confirmed the matter.
“Tomorrow, the court will be hearing Najib’s application to disqualify senior Sri Ram as prosecutor in the trial. Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib will be leading the prosecution team.”
On June 12 last year, Najib filed an application, supported by two affidavits, to recuse Sri Ram. One of the affidavits was filed by Najib, and the other by former attorney-general Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.
However, Zahid’s trial, scheduled to continue on the same day (tomorrow) before high court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, has been vacated, as he is currently observing self-quarantine after undergoing a swab test on January 20. – Bernama, January 26, 2021
