Judge recuses himself from hearing Anwar’s leave application

KUALA LUMPUR: A High Court judge yesterday recused himself from hearing a leave application for a judicial review of the Pardons Board’s rejection of his petition for a royal pardon over his sodomy conviction.

Datuk Wira Kamaludin Md Said made the decision in chambers during case management which was attended by lawyer Latheefa Koya, representing Anwar, his wife Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their daughters, Nurul Izzah and Nurul Nuha.

Latheefa told reporters that Kamaludin recused himself on grounds that he was not fit to hear the matter on grounds that he used the represent the government when he was senior federal counsel in a suit filed by Anwar against the Prime Minister and was also the deputy public prosecutor in Anwar’s first sodomy case.

She said the court set Aug 3 for case management before the High Court deputy registrar.

On June 24, 2015, Anwar and his family members filed an application for leave to quash the Pardons Board’s decision, made on March 16, 2015, in dismissing his petition for a royal pardon over his sodomy conviction and to compel it to advise the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong to pardon and release Anwar.

They named the Pardons Board, the Attorney-General, and the Malaysian government as respondents. - Bernama