EXCLUSIVE | There is a possibility that former premier Najib Abdul Razak's trial will be heard before a new judge.

This follows questions regarding Justice Sophian Abdul Razak's impartiality after it was revealed that he is the brother of Mohd Soffi Abdul Razak, a five-term Umno assemblyperson in Pahang and a four-time state exco member.

Najib, who was the former Umno president, hails from Pahang.

Justice Sophian recorded Najib's plea when the case was transferred from the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court earlier this month.

The former premier was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of power in relation to SRC International funds.

Malaysiakini has since verified with two different sources that Justice Sophian is scheduled to be transferred to the Kuala Lumpur High Court's civil division effective Aug 1.

Asked by reporters after Najib was charged on July 4, attorney-general Tommy Thomas said he did not know of Justice Sophian's family background.

However, Malaysian Bar president George Varughese had raised the matter and urged the judge to recuse himself.

"The Malaysian Bar believes that such a disclosure by the judge is necessary to preserve the integrity of the proceedings before him and to avoid any real danger of bias.

“The judge's failure to do so has unfortunately raised serious questions about the propriety of him continuing to preside over the case," said Varughese.

Sources have suggested that Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali might preside over Najib's case with the matter fixed for case management on Aug 8.

But checks on the case list still shows that Justice Sophian is listed to preside over the case.

Justice Nazlan was appointed a judicial commissioner in April 2015 and is presently with the commercial division. He is slated to be transferred laterally to the Kuala Lumpur High Court criminal division effective Wednesday.

Justice Nazlan, 51, is an alumnus of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence and a Master of Arts from Oxford. He is a Barrister at Law of Lincoln’s Inn.

After practising law at Zaid Ibrahim & Co for five years, Justice Nazlan served at the Securities Commission as its head of enforcement before he moved to Maybank where he was head of corporate and legal services, general counsel and executive vice-president before joining the judiciary.

Nazlan, when met in private and asked whether he will sit for Najib's case, replied: "let us see on that day."

Malaysiakini understands a circular detailing the transfer is out.