File application to MACC for Nazlan probe results, Najib’s lawyers told
(FMT) – Najib Razak’s lawyers should file an official application with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if they want the results of the probe on Justice Nazlan Ghazali, said law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said.
In a statement, Azalina said the contents of her letter to the former prime minister’s solicitors, Shafee & Co, were consistent with her answer in Parliament on Feb 23.
“I had explained that MACC informed me of a report lodged against Nazlan’s alleged breach of the Judge’s Code of Ethics 2009.
“I have also told the Dewan Rakyat that the matter came under the attorney-general’s purview, in accordance with Clauses 3 and 3A of Article 125 of the Federal Constitution,” she said.
The minister reiterated that the government would always respect the findings and continue to uphold the principle of separation of powers.
Earlier today, Azalina confirmed that the MACC’s probe on Nazlan concluded he had violated the Judges’ Code of Ethics and had a conflict of interest when presiding over the SRC International case.
She said this was based on a report of MACC’s findings dated Feb 20 that was extended to her, stating that the MACC had found “issues of wrongdoing” by Nazlan that the Chief Justice “needed to consider”.
Her confirmation has led to various quarters questioning the role of MACC in the investigation while others, such as Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi, demanded that the Chief Justice and the attorney-general set the record straight on the matter.
Images of a purported letter from MACC chief Azam Baki to Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat made the rounds on social media days after the Federal Court dismissed Najib’s bid to review his conviction and sentence.
On Feb 24, a seven-member Federal Court panel led by Tengku Maimun accused the MACC of not following protocol when conducting its investigation into Nazlan.
Nazlan, now a Court of Appeal judge, had convicted Najib in July 2020 on charges of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over RM42 million in funds belonging to SRC.
He sentenced Najib to 12 years in jail and fined him RM210 million. Najib’s appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed in December 2021. The Federal Court on Aug 23 last year upheld the conviction and sentence.
