Najib's defence ‘irresponsible’ for last minute attempt to disqualify prosecutor

KUALA LUMPUR: The defence in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s case was “irresponsible” for filing an application to challenge the appointment of senior lawyer Datuk Sulaiman Abdullah (pic) at the eleventh hour, the High Court heard.

Sulaiman, who was appointed by the Attorney General's Chambers as lead prosecutor in Najib’s case for abusing RM42mil from SRC International Sdn Bhd, said the defence should have filed the application from the first day of the case.

“We just received the application (to challenge the appointment). It should be done on Day 1,” he said during the case mention here on Thursday (Nov 29).

Sulaiman also informed the court that the prosecution would be filing a preliminary objection on the challenge to his appointment. 

Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah asked the court to hear the application to challenge Sulaiman’s appointment by fiat (authorisation) to be heard together with the application on discovery of documents, which includes witness statements.

“I’m sure Your Honour would want to expedite these two ancillary matters,” he said.

Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali then fixed Dec 18 to hear both applications.

On July 4, Najib 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.