DO not get too anxious about judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali’s transfer from criminal court to the civil court.
“It’s just an administrative transfer. Please don’t drag the judiciary into politics,” Bar Council president Salim Bashir told FocusM.
Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that Nazlan, the judge who made history by convicting former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on graft charges, had been transferred to the civil court.
The matter was confirmed by a circular issued by Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Azahar Mohamed, who directed Nazlan’s transfer from the Kuala Lumpur High Court (Criminal 3) to Kuala Lumpur High Court (NCvC 2), effective Mar 1.
“The Chief Judge of Malaya, Azahar Mohamed, has extended to us a copy of a directive for change (His Honorable Judge of the High Court of Malaya Bil 2/2021.
“Please be informed that the following placement will take effect on Mar 1,” the circular by Malaysian Bar secretary AG Kalidas said.
A senior member of the Bar, Syed Iskandar Syed Jaafar was reported telling the news portal that the transfer would raise some eyebrows.
“It is strange for such a transfer to only involve a single judge. We should have instead been on the path to independence of the judiciary with Nazlan’s brave decision,” he was reported saying.
However, Salim reiterated that the matter was just an administrative issue where one judge is transferred to another court by their superior.
“And there is no promotion or demotion involved in this. All Nazlan has to do now is clear ‘part heard’ hearings, which will depend on the number of witnesses that have testified and evidences submitted.
“If he cannot clear the cases before the transfer date, the judge would have to refer the matter to the Chief Judge of Malaya for further instructions,” he added.
Among other high-profile cases Nazlan is presiding involves 1MDB, linked to the Government’s US$340 mil forfeiture suit against PetroSaudi International Limited and four others.
Nazlan is also set to deliver his decision on former Felda chairperson Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad’s corruption case linked to the purchase of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites (MPHS), by Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FICSB) on Feb 3.
On related matter, lawyer cum activist Siti Kasim expressed concern over Nazlan’s transfer.
“While it’s normal for judges to get transferred across different courts and divisions, I find it odd that only Nazlan got transferred. There is nothing normal about this,” she said. – Jan 23, 2021.
