Malaysia 1MDB scandal: backlash as judge who convicted Najib Razak investigated for corruption
- The sudden scrutiny of Judge Nazlan Ghazali has drawn sharp criticism, with lawyers and opposition politicians calling the investigation unconstitutional
- Nazlan presided over the 2020 conviction of Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak, in the first of dozens of cases linked to global financial scandal
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation appeared to contravene the separation of powers in Malaysia and “undermines the independence of the judiciary”, the country’s Bar Council said.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said on Saturday that the agency had “started our investigation” into Court of Appeal Judge Nazlan Ghazali, without offering further details, according to a report in The Star newspaper.
Azam was quoted as saying the investigation was initiated because “there were reports lodged”.
Days earlier, Raja Petra Kamarudin, a Britain-based blogger, wrote on the Malaysia Today website that Nazlan – who oversaw Najib’s case in the High Court – was being investigated for having an “unexplained” 1 million ringgit (USD$231,000) in a personal bank account.
Nazlan, who was promoted to the Court of Appeal in February, has filed a police report, saying Kamarudin’s post was malicious, baseless and aimed at tarnishing his credibility as a judge.
