MACC probe shows Nazlan violated Judges' Code of Ethics in SRC case, says Azalina
SHAH ALAM - Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali has been found to go against the Judges' Code of Ethics due to a conflict of interest while leading the SRC International case involving former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Law Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said this was based on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigations.
Azalina confirmed Nazlan had violated the code and had a conflict of interest through a letter dated on March 20 to Shafee & Co, according to a report in FMT.
Azalina said it was based on the graft agency's findings on Feb 20 extended by the agency to her.
She was replying to a letter from Najib's lawyer dated March 15, asking whether the MACC wrote to the Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat to recommend disciplinary proceedings be initiated against Nazlan over the handling of the SRC case, said the report.
The law firm was further reported to have questioned if MACC concluded that Nazlan violated the Judges' Code of Ethics and had a conflict of interest.
Azalina said in the response letter to the firm that she could confirm the questions presented have been answered affirmatively.
Previously an alleged letter from MACC Chief Tan Sri Azam Baki to Tengku Maimun had been circulated on social media days after the Putrajaya Federal Court rejected the former Umno president's application to review his conviction and sentence.
The letter dated Feb 20 stated MACC found a misconduct by Nazlan to be considered by the Chief Justice.
On Feb 24 the media reported the seven Federal Court judges panel led by Tengku Maimun stated the MACC did not follow protocol while conducting the investigation on Nazlan.
Tengku Maimun in her judgment said investigation agencies such as MACC must consult Chief Justice before starting investigations on higher court judges.
On July 2020, Nazlan who was a High Court Judge at the time found Najib guilty of seven charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering of SRC funds and ordered him to be imprisoned for 12 years and fined RM210 million.
