Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail today confirmed that Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Farah Azlina Latif has been dropped from the prosecution team in the sodomy trial of former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.

ghani patail gani 060409 He said the move was a follow-up to the allegation that Farah Azlina had a romantic relationship with the key witness in the case, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

He said Farah Azlina was also dropped from the Prosecution Division of the Attorney-General's Chambers for the same reason.

"The attorney-general's chambers cannot compromise on any issue that can tarnish the image or credibility of the department and we are looking at such matters very seriously.

"This can be very difficult for us but any personal matter, if it can have any implication in whatever form on the department, will be handled very seriously," he told reporters at a press conference at his office at Putrajaya.

The press conference was held to explain the latest developments and at the same time answer questions on the relationship between Farah Azlina and Mohd Saiful as reported in the website Malaysia Today recently.

Abdul Gani said Farah Azlina had to be dropped not because she was found guilty, but to avoid any negative public perception of the prosecution team. "This move is also to ensure that the smooth running of the case is not affected," he said.

However, he said Farah Azlina had very limited involvement in the case, which was to assist in recording all notes on the proceedings.

"She had no access at all to the investigation papers or any confidential information that the prosecution has," he said.

The prosecution team for the case is headed by Solicitor-General 2, Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden who is assisted by DPP Datuk Nordin Hassan, DPP Noorin Badaruddin, DPP Mohamed Hanafiah Zakaria, DPP Wong Chiang Kiat, DPP Mira Mirna Musa, DPP Naidatul Athirah Azman and Farah Azlina.

- Bernama