YET another UMNO leader has waded into the debate surrounding “new evidence” in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International RM42 mil corruption case.
This is despite the Malaysian Bar’s warning to politicians against tarnishing the reputation of the judiciary, following statements of this nature being made by UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi referred to a leaked document said to be a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation paper (IP) into the SRC International trial judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.
The IP, as reported by Malaysia Today, supposedly recommends charges under Section 220 of the Penal Code for commitment for trial or confinement by a person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law.
Puad today urged the MACC, Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun and Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat not to be bisu (mute) over the supposed IP.
“Is keeping silent the current trend of justice in the country?” Puad asked on Facebook. “The proof that is right in front of their eyes is turned a blind eye to.”
Perhaps it is better to be mute and buat donno (be oblivious) so that the rakyat “cannot do anything”, the Johor state assembly speaker remarked further.
Puad said the people want to know if Idrus has read the report, which was completed and submitted by the MACC to the AGC for further action on May 21. Idrus reportedly said two days later that he was still reviewing the IP.
“It’s been three months. Why is he being silent too?” Puad asked. “Maybe he hasn’t read the report and didn’t think that it would be leaked. That is why he has turned a deaf ear.
Puad added that the rakyat also wants the chief justice to state whether the leaked report warrants a reason for Najib’s new evidence application in his SRC International case to be re-considered.
“Shouldn’t the chief justice be fairer with their (the judiciary’s) sacred words: ‘justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done’?” he asked. “Unfortunately, everyone is mute.”
Fresh evidence bid binned
Last Tuesday, (Aug 16), a five-member Federal Court bench led by Tengku Maimun rejected Najib’s bid to adduce new evidence to prove that Nazlan was under a serious conflict of interest when presiding over the SRC International trial two years ago.
Tengku Maimun said Najib failed to show the relevance of the new evidence against his charges, adding that Nazlan’s previous role as Maybank Group general counsel and company secretary was public knowledge and should not have come as a “surprise”.
The defence had argued that there was a real danger of “bias” due to Nazlan’s supposed involvement in the bank’s RM4.17 bil loan to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). SRC International is a former 1MDB subsidiary, and Najib used to be SRC’s adviser emeritus as well as chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers.
On Friday (Aug 19), Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah Yee Lynn rapped Zahid and Mohamad for alleging that the Federal Court’s decision to deny Najib’s new evidence bid “erodes judicial integrity”.
“This sort of behaviour is tantamount to an attack on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law,” she said, adding that such “unjustifiable statements” only serve to “poison” the well-being of judges as they cannot publicly defend themselves.
In July 2020, Nazlan found Najib guilty of seven charges of power abuse, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in the SRC International case. He was also fined RM210 mil and sentenced to 12 years in jail.
After losing his appeal at the Court of Appeal last December, Najib went to the Federal Court to appeal the charges and the fine – which is slated to continue hearings until next Thursday (Aug 30). – Aug 21, 2022
Main photo credit: Utusan Malaysia
