Najib asked to leave courtroom for Rosmah's bribery trial

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was asked to leave the courtroom, where his wife was facing a graft trial after the prosecution objected to his presence at the High Court here.

High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan made the ruling early on during Thursday's (Feb 6) proceedings despite protests from Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's defense team, who argued that Najib was doing what "every good husband" would do by being there for his wife.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib raised objection, saying Najib's presence in the courtroom should not be allowed as he was a potential witness for Rosmah's solicitation of bribery and graft trial.

DPP Akram told the court that Najib's statement had been taken during the investigation for the case.

Defense counsel Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader pointed out that Najib was also present in court the day before (Feb 5).

"Najib has been here since yesterday. He was already in the court," Akberdin said.

Justice Zaini, however, said that he might have overlooked Najib's presence in court.

"Could I ask you to leave the court?" Justice Zaini told Najib.

Najib and his aides went out of the court without complaint.