THE Kuala Lumpur High Court today dismissed Najib Razak’s application to disqualify Gopal Sri Ram from the prosecution team in the former prime minister’s 1MDB audit report tampering trial.

Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ruled that Najib’s recusal application against Sri Ram, a former Federal Court judge, was without basis and misplaced.

“It would have been a different consideration if it was demonstrated (Sri Ram’s opinion caused bias) when carrying out his duty as DPP.

“Nevertheless, as highlighted by the respondent (prosecution team), it (alleged event showing bias via Sri Ram’s meeting with then attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali in early 2018) took place before Sri Ram was appointed as DPP.

“The applicant (Najib) has not made any application earlier to complain about Sri Ram’s conduct in the trial (1MDB audit report tampering case) involving the applicant,” the judge was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.

Najib’s 1MDB audit report tampering trial is set to resume on February 22 with today fixed for the decision on the recusal bid against Sri Ram.

Najib claimed trial to a single charge of using his position to remove parts of the final 1MDB audit report between February 22 and 26, 2016, at the Prime Minister’s Department to protect himself from criminal action.

He was charged, in his capacity as prime minister and a public officer, with using the position to obtain gratification for himself, which was to evade disciplinary, civil or criminal action against him in connection with 1MDB by ordering alterations to the final audit report after it was finalised by the National Audit Department and before it was finalised again and tabled to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Co-accused and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy was charged with abetting Najib in making the amendments. – February 15, 2021.