KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today said no party can dictate the court's proceedings and prioritisation of cases.
Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah said this following a letter submitted by the prosecution in Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's corruption case asking the court to expedite the Umno president's case.
The judge said the Umno president's corruption case involving Yayasan Akalbudi would proceed on the dates that had already been fixed by the court.
"I do not think we can decide on what case we can hear or which case to give priority. This is the prerogative of the court," he said.
In the letter, the prosecution had asked the court to prioritise Zahid's corruption trial over former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1MDB trial, which is also being heard before the same court.
The letter, which was signed by deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob, was sent to the court yesterday afternoon. The prosecution, however, later retracted the letter.
Zahid's lead counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik had slammed the move by stating that it could be considered as applying pressure on the court.
"We hope the trial will be conducted according to the rule of law," he said.
After spending 17 days on the witness stand in a process that began on April 13, Zahid finally finished giving his testimony to defend himself today.
His lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh said the defence needed at least 20 days to call 40 witnesses to testify in court between Sept 19 and Nov 10.
Earlier in today's proceedings, Zahid said he did not have total control over Yayasan Akalbudi even though he was the founder of the foundation.
He said he had always adhered to the foundation's memorandum and articles of association when dealing with its funds.
"I never used the foundation's monies for my own benefit," he said during a re-examination by Hamidi.
The prosecution during its submission said the evidence provided in the trial clearly showed that Zahid had misused the money for his personal benefit and interest.
Zahid, 69, has pleaded not guilty to 57 charges, 12 of which are for criminal breach of trust, eight for bribery and 27 for money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi. The hearing continues.