SULAIMAN, SRI RAM TO LEAD PROSECUTION
Attorney-general stepping aside as lead prosecutor in Najib’s cases due to responsibilities
THE A-G has appointed lawyer Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah as lead prosecutor in the government’s case against Datuk Seri Najib Razak, while former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram has been appointed as senior DPP to spearhead the process of preparing charges for other
1MDB-linked cases.
AFORMER Bar Council president and a former federal judge will separately lead the government’s prosecution against Datuk Seri Najib Razak on cases relating to SRC International and 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
This follows the move by Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to step aside as the lead prosecutor in the criminal cases against the former prime minister.
Yesterday, he said lawyer and former Bar Council president Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah had been appointed as lead prosecutor in the government’s case against Najib.
Meanwhile, former Federal Court judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram had been appointed senior deputy public prosecutor to spearhead the process of preparing charges for other 1MDB-linked cases.
Thomas said the move to appoint the duo was due to his commitments and responsibilities as A-G.
As the nation’s top legal officer, he said, his tasks would prevent him from devoting himself to the case, which would go to trial next year.
He said after being in office for almost three months, he experienced first hand the demands of the offices of the A-G and public prosecutor.
This was coupled with the varied and multitasked requirements of the chief legal officer in a reforming administration, he said.
He said he realised he could not juggle between his commitments in conducting Najib’s trial.
The seven-week trial for Najib was fixed for Feb 12 to March 29.
Thomas said a trial of such importance and complexity required the full-time attention of the lead counsel, not just during the trial, but also in the months leading to the trial, followed by the preparation of detailed written submissions after the trial.
“Unfortunately, the demands of equally urgent and pressing matters of state do not permit me the time required to focus on this prosecution.”
Thomas said as such, he exercised his discretion under Section 379 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and appointed Sulaiman to lead the prosecution.
“Datuk Sulaiman is one of the nation’s leading barristers, having substantial experience in criminal law, including white-collar crime.
“His eloquence is unmatched, and his intellect second to none. Datuk Sulaiman has impeccable integrity, and is a principled lawyer.”
He said Sulaiman agreed to waive all fees and would provide his services pro bono.
He said it was public knowledge that the investigation papers (IPs) on the fraudulent deals connected to 1MDB had not been submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (A-GC) by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and police.
He said the exception was one IP on businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, which resulted in charges and the issuance of arrest warrants against him and his father last week.
He said upon receipt of the IPs from investigating agencies, the A-GC was required to study them, prepare charges and prosecute the accused.
To spearhead this process, Thomas announced the appointment of Gopal as senior deputy public prosecutor pursuant to Section 376 (3) of the CPC.
Thomas said Gopal had substantial experience in criminal law matters.
“His strong and determined personality will no doubt enhance the investigation and prosecution in all matters pertaining to the 1MDB scandal,” he said, adding that Gopal would work pro bono.
“With the twin appointments of the leading lights in the Malaysian Bar, our commitment to prosecute those responsible for the greatest kleptocracy in the history of the world with the gravity that it deserves, and that ordinary Malaysians expect, cannot be doubted.”