Judge, prosecutor make history with conviction of former PM

The Kuala Lumpur High Court witnessed the making of history when Najib Abdul Razak became the first former Malaysian prime minister to be convicted.

And the person who delivered the verdict, Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali, and the lead prosecutor V Sithambaram, have also reserved their respective spots in history.

Speculation had been rife that following the change of government in February, which witnessed Umno returning to power with the nascent Perikatan Nasional government, Najib might be spared.

However, this was not the case.

In May, Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had said his client would not want his charges to be dropped as he wishes to proceed with the trials, which include a slew of other cases, to clear his name.

Finding Najib guilty on all seven counts related to the RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd case, the judge ruled, among others, that it was “far-fetched and self-serving” to claim that the former premier was duped by fugitive businessperson Jho Low.

Nazlan also dismissed the claim that the monies in Najib's bank accounts were a donation, saying that as the former premier he did not take the effort to verify the letter from the Saudi royalty, who was the said donor.

He also noted that Najib did not send King Abdullah a thank-you note.

The 51-year-old judge was an alumnus of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Jurisprudence and a Master of Arts from Oxford. He is a barrister-at-law from Lincoln’s Inn, London.

After practising law at Zaid Ibrahim & Co for five years, Nazlan served with 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 had replaced Justice Sophian Abdul Razak who recorded Najib's plea of not guilty in July 2018.

Questions on Justice Sophian's impartiality were raised 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, the former Umno president, hails from Pahang and is the MP for Pekan.

Whereas Sithambaram was appointed by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas last year to be part of the prosecution team.

The Penang-based lawyer is best remembered for representing engineer Hanif Basree Abdul Rahman in the murder case of Norita Samsudin in 2004.

Hanif was later acquitted.

Meanwhile, Thomas when contacted, declined to comment on the verdict.

“No comments. Not proper (for me to comment),” said the former attorney-general.

Related reports:

Govt respects Najib's right to appeal his sentence

More Umno leaders express sympathy to Najib

Appeal process on SRC verdict may take another year, says prosecution

Khairy’s views are his own, says Najib

Attempts made to discredit Nazlan's impartiality after SRC ruling

Najib sentenced to 12-year concurrent prison term, RM210m fine

Zahid: Umno to make 'political decision' in response to Najib's conviction

I ensured fairer, gentler society – Najib's speech from the dock

Najib guilty of all seven charges related to SRC International

SRC case: Defence requests mitigation to be heard on Monday

SRC verdict justice for M'sians, say politicians, journos who exposed 1MDB scandal

Vindication for S'wak Report editor after 'devastating' verdict against Najib

'This is wrong!' -'Bossku' supporters rage against guilty court verdict

Cops remind Najib's supporters to adhere to Covid-19 SOP

SOPs disregarded: Health DG 'saddened' by lack of self-control at court complex

Muhyiddin 'smiles the widest' at Najib's SRC verdict, claims Puad

MP complains of Covid-19 risk in Parliament after colleagues join Najib rally

Return voters' mandate, reform institutions - Harapan after SRC verdict

LIVE | Najib recites 'sumpah laknat' again, denies knowledge of RM42m

SRC verdict justice for M'sians, say those who exposed 1MDB scandal

SRC case: Defence requests mitigation to be heard on Monday

Najib guilty of all seven charges related to SRC International

LIVE | Judge grants Najib stay, bail increased by RM1m