1MDB scandal: Malaysia’s Najib tries to get judges replaced in linked corruption appeal, claiming bias
- Najib Razak’s lawyer argued that the chair of the bench may be biased as her husband made a Facebook post critical of the former Malaysian PM in 2018
- The application is the latest move by the disgraced leader to delay the hearing. Last week, his lawyers sought to postpone it by four months
The application is the latest move by the disgraced leader to delay the hearing, which his lawyers had argued was necessary to allow them sufficient time to prepare for the case before the Federal Court.
Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, Najib’s lawyer, argued that Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat – who is chairing the bench – may be biased as her husband had in 2018 made a Facebook post that was critical of the former prime minister after a watershed general election that year which saw the nation’s first ever change of government.
“I say this with the greatest of respect, it’s raised as a point of law,” Hisyam said when making the application.
“It’s not an attack … based on certain information about two of this panel, it is incumbent on the appellant to make this application.”
Hisyam later filed a second application to adjourn the main hearing pending the disposal of their application to recuse the bench, prompting the court to stand down to prepare for the recusal application.
Last week, Najib’s lawyers had sought to postpone the hearing by four months to allow them sufficient time to prepare.