KUALA LUMPUR: A High Court judge has recused himself from hearing an application from Jonathan Laidlaw, a Queen’s Counsel (QC) of the United Kingdom to represent Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak(pix)in the latter’s final appeal in the case involving the misappropriation of RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Justice Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh in his brief decision said he decided to recuse himself from hearing the application as one of his immediate family members is a very active politician and a divisional leader in the same political party as Najib, who is the appellant.
Justice Wan Ahmad Farid, who himself was once an Umno politician, said although he had resigned from the political party, his stand is that the public perception of the independence of the judiciary should not be put in doubt.
“It is public knowledge that before being appointed to the bench, I was an active politician and at one time, a member of the administration and Dewan Negara.
“I must add that, after taking my oath as a member of the judiciary, my only sacred duty is to preserve, protect and defend the Federal Constitution without fear or favour,” said the judge.
The mention of Laidlaw’s application for ad hoc admission was initially fixed for today.
In his final appeal in the Federal Court, Najib sought to quash his conviction and 12-year jail sentence and a fine of RM210 million on one charge of abuse of position, three charges of breach of trust and three charges of money laundering linked to SRC International funds.
Justice Wan Ahmad Farid further added that in the light of the factual narration that he alluded to earlier, his continued hearing of the originating motion and eventual decision, one way or the other, would not be seen as purely from the legal perspective devoid of any extraneous predilections or preferences.
“It would invite unnecessary criticisms that would compromise the integrity of the judiciary. This is the very thing that I have to avoid despite running the risk of being accused of abdicating my judicial duty.
“The public perception of the independence of the judiciary should not be put in doubt and it is not a matter of trial and error,” the judge said. — Bernama
More to come..