KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 30): High Court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah reminded both the defence and prosecution in Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial that what cases should be prioritised is the prerogative of the court, and it should not be dictated by any parties.
Sequerah said this after Zahid’s lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Taik had brought the court's attention to a letter sent by the prosecution to Sequerah.
In this letter — which was also leaked by a local news portal — deputy public prosecutor (DPP) Abdul Malik Ayob had written to Sequerah seeking permission for him to prioritise Zahid’s case over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-Tanore trial as Zahid’s case is at the defence stage and would come to a close sooner.
It should be noted that Sequerah is also the judge in the 1MDB-Tanore trial where former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is charged with four counts of abuse of power in enriching himself with RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds, and 21 counts of money laundering of the same amount.
However, Malik then told the judge that the letter has been retracted and there is no such application. The DPP also apologised to the court.
Hisyam said the letter can be misconstrued as putting pressure on the court to finish Zahid’s case as fast as possible.
Sequerah said the hearing will proceed with the dates already fixed and reminded them that the court cannot be told what cases it should hear.
“In any case, the court will proceed with dates already fixed. I don’t think the court can be dictated as to what cases it can or cannot hear, [or] which case to give priority to and not. It’s the prerogative of the court, so the court will proceed with the dates fixed,” the judge said.
The trial then continued with Zahid’s lawyers re-examining him as Zahid took the witness stand in his defence.
Zahid is facing 47 charges — 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption, and 27 for money laundering — involving RM31 million belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi, a charity arm which was started by him.