Hearing of Najib’s appeal to recuse judge on Aug 20


PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal has set Aug 20 to hear former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appeal to recuse judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah from presiding over his ongoing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohamad Mustafa P. Kunyalam said Court of Appeal senior assistant registrar Nurul Azrina Mohamed Yusof set the date during the case management yesterday, Bernama reported.

Najib is appealing against the decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Aug 18 last year in dismissing his application to recuse Justice Sequerah from hearing his trial.

The former Pekan MP applied to remove Sequerah from the trial after the judge disclosed that he and former IMDB general counsel Jasmine Loo Ai Swan had been partners in a law firm.

In dismissing Najib’s application to recuse him, Justice Sequerah, now a Court of Appeal judge, ruled that since Loo left the legal firm in December 2008, there has been no communication either on a professional or personal basis between them.

Loo had testified in the ongoing trial as the prosecution’s 50th witness.

Najib, 70, is facing 25 charges in total – four for abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.28bil; and 21 for money laundering involving the same amount of money.

The hearing will continue on April 22.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Nation

Two brothers plead not guilty for causing fire through fireworks in Teluk Intan
Airlines in Asean to have stopover rights in all member states soon, says Loke
Water supply disruptions, land prices among challenges in Penang's Silicon Valley ambitions
Taiwan court orders murderer of Malaysian student to pay family compensation of RM876,000
Arraignment of Syrian national in British passport forgery case postponed
Natural Resources Ministry reaffirms goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
Cops to seek AGC's advice in completing probe of Teoh Beng Hock's death, says IGP
Sabah's location makes it ideal choice for China investors, says Deputy CM
Dewan Rakyat: Nine ministries complete winding-up of Supply Bill 2025 debate at committee stage
Civil Defence Force Melaka prepares for Northeast Monsoon with boat handling exercise

Others Also Read