PM: MACC found no criminal element in Nazlan’s case
PARLIAMENT | The MACC has completed its investigation into the allegations against judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali and has found no evidence of any criminal offence, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The judge was probed for an alleged violation of the Judges’ Code of Ethics and a conflict of interest while presiding over Najib Abdul Razak's RM42 million SRC International case.
Nazlan (above) had since been elevated to the Court of Appeal.
"MACC has thoroughly investigated the matter and found that no criminal offence was committed.
"This matter has been approved by the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC)," Anwar told Dewan Negara this morning.
Controversy surrounded the investigation on Nazlan as concerns about potential interference by MACC with the judiciary were raised.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Critics argued that the MACC lacked the authority to investigate a judge, prompting calls for the High Court to declare the probe invalid from the outset.
Federal Court ruling
In the Dewan Negara today, Anwar said the Federal Court had ruled on Nazlan’s supposed conflict of interest in Najib’s case and had also rejected the former prime minister’s request for additional statements.
He added that the defendant had also retracted claims against Nazlan in August last year.
In April, there was a letter from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said to Najib’s lawyers, which affirmed MACC’s findings on Nazlan.
Critics argued that the MACC lacked the authority to investigate a judge, prompting calls for the High Court to declare the probe invalid from the outset.
Federal Court ruling
In the Dewan Negara today, Anwar said the Federal Court had ruled on Nazlan’s supposed conflict of interest in Najib’s case and had also rejected the former prime minister’s request for additional statements.
He added that the defendant had also retracted claims against Nazlan in August last year.
In April, there was a letter from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said to Najib’s lawyers, which affirmed MACC’s findings on Nazlan.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said
Malaysiakini reported that Najib’s lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had written to Azalina asking her to confirm whether MACC found Nazlan to be in a conflict of interest when presiding over the SRC International case.
He also wanted to know if MACC found that Nazlan had violated the Judges’ Code of Ethics.
In her reply to Shafee, Azalina stated that his “queries are answered in the affirmative”.
However, Transport Minister Anthony Loke later said Azalina’s letter was never discussed by the cabinet.
Malaysiakini reported that Najib’s lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had written to Azalina asking her to confirm whether MACC found Nazlan to be in a conflict of interest when presiding over the SRC International case.
He also wanted to know if MACC found that Nazlan had violated the Judges’ Code of Ethics.
In her reply to Shafee, Azalina stated that his “queries are answered in the affirmative”.
However, Transport Minister Anthony Loke later said Azalina’s letter was never discussed by the cabinet.
I think Ah Mok has gone round the bend in his unchangeable determination that Najib is innocent, ergo any judge who says he is not must be corrupt or biased.
ReplyDeleteAnwar stated that no crime was committed or no law was broken , which is a perfectly reasonable conclusion.
Whether any ethical concerns arose falls on the judiciary itself to determine , not for the MACC to conclude, because the MACC is strictly a law enforcement body.