Lawyers insist Najib, Rosmah not key to Sodomy II
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife are not relevant witnesses to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s ongoing sodomy trial, their lawyers claimed today, adding that the duo would not be able to offer any material evidence to the court.
Datuk Hisyam Teh, one of the lawyers representing the prime minister and Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in their joint application to avoid testifying, said that the opposition leader has failed to furnish proof that the two were relevant witnesses.
The lawyer said Anwar’s application to compel Najib and wife to testify was merely a “fishing expedition” to seek information.
While Najib admitted to meeting Anwar’s accuser, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, on June 24, 2008 — two days before the alleged sodomy act — the PM’s lawyers stressed that the meeting was not related to events on June 26.
“I cannot give [any] relevant evidence on what has been brought up by the first respondent (Anwar),” said Hisham, who read out excerpts of Najib’s affidavit.
Rosmah’s affidavit contained the same explanation.
“However, we would like to argue that the meeting on June 24 has no nexus, no connection to the incident on June 26, 2008.
“The first respondent wants the PM to clarify. This clarification, confirmation on what happened on June 24 is not connected to the primary act, which is the charge… the incident was on June 26, not a day before or after,” said Hisham.
“They have no legal right to call any person not in possession of material or relevant evidence,” said the lawyer. “Where is the connection to the charge?”
