THE Attorney-General’s Chambers has objected to legal challenges by former prime minister Najib Razak and his lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, to the choice of Gopal Sri Ram as lead prosecutor in the graft cases against them. 

Gopal, a former Federal Court judge, is acting as fiat prosecutor against Najib in the 39 charges related to 1Malaysia Development Bhd, its subsidiary, SRC International, the government settlement with International Petroleum Investment Company and the alleged alteration of the 1MDB audit report. 

The A-G Chambers has informed high court judge Azizah Nawawi of its objections.

Azizah will hear the leave application for both judicial reviews against Gopal’s appointment on January 29, Shafee told reporters at the case mention today. 

The court fixed February 8 to hear Najib’s bid to recuse Gopal as lead prosecutor.

Shafee said Gopal could not assume roles as both prosecutor and private practitioner: “He must be a permanent staff in the AGC and a public servant.”

Najib, who is facing charges of corruption and money-laundering involving 1MDB funds, filed two applications to recuse Gopal from leading the prosecution in his case.

One of the applications was filed at the appellate and special powers division of the high court, seeking a judicial review on Gopal’s appointment. The other was filed at the Criminal High Court, seeking to quash Gopal’s appointment as senior deputy public prosecutor.

Najib filed a complementary application for a judicial review to support the application to disqualify Gopal’s appointment.

Najib, 66, facing four charges under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act and 21 charges for money-laundering involving 1MDB funds to the tune of RM2.28 billion.

He was charged with committing the offences at AmIslamic Bank Bhd, No. 55, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Ceylon between 2011 and 2014. – January 10, 2019.