Crime & Courts

Sept 9 decision on Rosmah's application

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has fixed Sept 9 to decide on Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's application to remove former Federal Court Judge Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram as the lead prosecutor in her corruption trial.

High Court judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan set the date after hearing lengthy submissions from the defence.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram in his submission said his appointment as the lead prosecutor in Rosmah's corruption trial involving a project to supply solar hybrid energy to rural schools in Sarawak was valid.

He said the appointment by former Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas was made under Section 376 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

Section 376 stipulates that the AG shall be the public prosecutor and shall have the control and direction of all criminal prosecutions and proceedings under this Code.

"The appointment under this Section (376) gives me all the power of a public prosecutor, including to lead Rosmah's corruption trial," he said.

Rosmah's counsel Datuk Jagjit Singh and Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader, contended that Sri Ram's appointment was just to conduct the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial.

Jagjit said his client's case was not related to 1MDB financial scandal which involved Rosmah's husband Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"Sri Ram has no legal authority or locus standi to appear in this trial.

"His letter of appointment (LOA) has nothing to do with Rosmah's solar project case," he said.

On Feb 18, Zaini had ordered Rosmah to enter her defence on all three corruption charges and the trial is set to proceed after her applications are heard.

The court has tentatively fixed Oct 5, 6, 7, 21, 28 and Nov 15 for Rosmah – who was not present in court today – to enter her defence.

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