Rosmah’s case ‘draft judgement’ leaked to ‘influence’ judge Zaini: Jagjit
KUALA LUMPUR – The leaked “draft judgement” on Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s RM1.25 billion corruption trial is now the centre of the defence team’s lengthy oral submissions in the latest bid to recuse the presiding judge, Mohamed Zaini Mazlan. Defence counsel Datuk Seri Jagjit Singh has branded it “trash”, and…
KUALA LUMPUR – The leaked “draft judgement” on Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor’s RM1.25 billion corruption trial is now the centre of the defence team’s lengthy oral submissions in the latest bid to recuse the presiding judge, Mohamed Zaini Mazlan.
Defence counsel Datuk Seri Jagjit Singh has branded it “trash”, and that it is meant to “influence” Zaini in his verdict.
In his lengthy oral submission, Jagjit argued that a person without the appropriate authority could have ordered the preparation of the draft judgement in order to influence the outcome of the trial.
However, he said the defence team is not stating that Zaini himself ordered a third party to prepare the “draft”.
Zaini then questioned how the defence would label the two documents in the application to recuse him from the trial.
While Jagjit was initially hesitant to answer, he finally said the documents were a “draft judgement” supposedly prepared for Zaini.
Zaini: “What do you call these two documents then, Datuk?”
Jagjit: “I don’t know my lord, I dare not label them but they are incriminating documents – as if the decision was taken by a person without authority to influence the judicial making process.”
In response, lead senior deputy public prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram concurred with Jagjit’s assessment that the two documents were “trash”.
“Supposed both of those opinions had said the accused were to be acquitted, would they (the defence) make this application?”
Sri Ram also drew attention to the administrator of the Malaysia Today website, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who the deputy public prosecutor described as a “fugitive from justice, rogue journalist and delivers his views based on how he is paid”.
In his rebuttal, he added that the use of judicial clerks is a norm in some commonwealth countries, and even in the US and Singapore.
At around 1pm, the court adjourned for lunch and Zaini is expected to deliver his decision on the recusal bid then. – The Vibes
MORE TO FOLLOW