PUTRAJAYA: The prosecution has slammed Datuk Seri Najib Razak's application to recuse Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat as another delay tactic.
Lead prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram (pic, right) said the defence made the application with "mala fide (bad faith)".
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"This application is mala fide. Done to scuttle the proceedings," he said in his reply to the defence's submission on Tuesday (Aug 23).
Sithambaram contended that the defence could have found the Facebook post by the CJ's husband Datuk Zamani Ibrahim that spoke about Najib being "dethroned" after the 14th General Election four years ago when it was posted.
Calling the application an attempt to delay, Sithambaram did not mince his words when he said delaying was what "criminal lawyers do best".
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"It is highly improbable that someone would learn about a post (that was uploaded) four years ago just days ago and put it in an affidavit.
"This is a clear abuse of court process," he said.
The prosecutor said the defence simply pulled a "pigeon out of a magician's hat" with the Facebook post when things did not go their way.
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"I pray this application, on the face of it, does not deserve to be considered and should be rejected outright," he said.
The hearing for the application to recuse the CJ in the SRC International Sdn Bhd appeal continues.
