SRC trial judge lodges police report against blog over 'disparaging' article

PETALING JAYA: A senior judge has lodged a police report against a blog over a recent article which he said had disparaged his reputation.

"This office refers to an article written by Raja Petra Kamarudin titled 'Judge Mohd Nazlan being investigated for unexplained RM1 million in his bank account' dated April 20, 2022, which was published by the blog Malaysia Today.

"A police report was lodged by Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali," the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court of Malaysia said in a statement on Thursday (April 21).

Mohd Nazlan was the judge who convicted former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the misappropriation of RM42mil of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

The statement added that Mohd Nazlan denied the accusations which he said were malicious, baseless and aimed at tarnishing his credibility as a judge.

"The police report was also made so that investigations are carried out under Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act including other related provisions," the statement read.

Those convicted under Section 500 for criminal defamation face a maximum two-year jail term or fine, or both.

Section 233 covers the improper use of network facilities or network services which carries a maximum RM50,000 fine or a maximum one-year jail term or both upon conviction.

The statement noted that the Office of the Chief Registrar viewed such accusations and comments seriously.

It reminded the public that accusations against the judiciary are a violation of the principle of sub judice, done with the intention of interfering with cases that are still being heard in court.

The police were urged to carry out an immediate investigation to maintain public confidence in the country’s judicial institution while ensuring that the administration of justice can be properly carried out.