Najib fails to oust Sulaiman

Court: No need for defence to see lead prosecutor’s appointment letter

KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution in the graft case involving Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and SRC International Sdn Bhd does not have to provide the letter of authorisation on the appointment of its lead prosecutor Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah to the defence, rules the High Court.

High Court judge Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali said there was no legal requirement for the prosecution to do so.

“The instrument of appointment is only required to be shown to the court and not the accused,” he said here yesterday.

The court noted that there was “a certain lack of clarity” when it came to the appointment of Sulaiman but pointed out that the Attorney General’s Chambers had issued a media release on Aug 31.

“The media release which bore the name of AG Tommy Thomas made it crystal clear that Sulaiman was to lead this case.

“I consider this application to be less than meritorious,” Justice Mohd Nazlan said yesterday.

On the issue that the appoint- ment letter had been classified as an official secret, Justice Mohd Nazlan said documents that had been classified as such could not be questioned in court.

“In that view, I dismiss this application,” he said.

Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the court that he would be appealing the decision. The court had earlier heard submissions from both parties on the matter.

In his submissions, Muhammad Shafee questioned whether the media release issued by the AGC relating to Sulaiman’s appointment was sufficient as there was no signature at the end.

He also argued that it was the duty of the prosecution to tender the letter of authorisation before the court on grounds that the production of the document was a prerequisite.

Sulaiman, in his reply, refused to produce the letter as it has been classified under the OSA.

AG Thomas had personally prosecuted the matter before and had publicly stated that he was handing the case over to advocate solicitor namely Sulaiman Abdullah, he said, referring to himself.

On July 4, the former prime minister was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one charge of abuse of power involving SRC International funds totalling RM42mil.

Subsequently, on Aug 8, Najib was charged with three counts of money laundering involving the same funds.

Najib later challenged Sulaiman’s appointment as the lead prosecutor in his case.

The instrument of appointment is only required to be shown to the court and not the accused. Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali