Judge Nazlan – What Is So Special About The Man?
KUALA LUMPUR– Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Gabungan Gerakan Keadlilan Untuk Najib (GGKN), has called for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to investigate Chief Justice (CJ), Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Attorney-General (AG), Idris Harun on suspicions of protecting the alleged wrong doings of Justice Nazlan Ghazali.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), through its report dated February 5, had confirmed that Nazlan had violated the Judge’s Code of Ethics 2009 and had a conflict of interest when presiding over the RM42m SRC International case involving former Prime Minister, Najib Razak.
Speaking on behalf of the NGO were Hamidah Osman and Hasnah Abdul Rahman. After having filed their police report at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters here in Kuala Lumpur, they addressed the reporters waiting outside the building.
No One Is Above The Law
Hamidah, in her statement, said the reason the NGO filed the police report is for the PDRM to investigate and take the matter to the relevant authorities if their findings are able to proof any wrongdoing by the CJ and AG, as “no one is above the law.”
“We are wondering why no action has been taken against Nazlan,” she said in light of the letter purportedly sent by Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) to Najib Razak’s lawyer, Shafee & Co, confirming the report by MACC.
MACC Recommended Disciplinary Proceedings Against Nazlan
It is believed that the MACC report, dated February 20, recommended that disciplinary proceedings be commenced against Nazlan in relation to his conduct in the SRC case. Nazlan was the High Court Judge who convicted and sentenced Najib to 12 years’ imprisonment and a RM210 million fine for misappropriating RM42 million of SRC International funds.
It was later discovered that Nazlan had a “conflict of interest” in relation to the SRC case, which he had failed to disclose.
In the letter dated March 20, Azalina confirmed that she had received the findings of the investigation on Nazlan and that the same report had been forwarded by MACC to the offices of the CJ and the AG.
“MACC had already extended their reports on Nazlan to the CJ and AG. Since there has been no further development from their side, we are beginning to suspect that they are somehow, trying to protect Nazlan.
“As per our understanding, protecting an individual suspected of wrongdoing from being subjected to legal action is an offence under Section 212 and 217 of the Penal Code,” Hamidah said.
She further added that under Section 212 of the Penal Code, whomever tries to protect a person from being brought to justice, can be sentenced to seven years’ jail and under Section 217 of the Penal Code, specifically for civil servants who purposely disobey the law with the intent of protecting a person from being prosecuted or having his property confiscated, if found guilty, can be jailed up to two years.
Hamidah added “Why is Nazlan so special that until now no action has been taken againts him? In fact, not only has no action been taken, but he has also been promoted?”
Nazlan Should Be Brought Before A Tribunal
“He should be brought before a tribunal, because this has become a matter of public interest. Malaysians are looking and observing the outcome of this case.”
Hamidah further added that what is happening to Najib Razak could also happen to other citizens, and this in turn will have bad repercussions on the image of the judicial system in our country.
Meanwhile, Hasnah Abdul Rahman said that the investigation on Nazlan has been under wraps for far too long, referring to the many times that police reports had been lodged on this matter.
“We urge that this matter be discussed openly and not swept under the carpet, like what is happening now. We want transparency in our country’s judicial bodies and we seek to find out the steps that will be taken by the relevant authorities to ensure that there is no discrepancy when it comes to the justice system in the country.
“We hope that this time our voices will be heard.”
