DPP dropped over Saiful link
DPP dropped over Saiful link
0 Comments | New Straits Times, Jul 28, 2010 | by Farrah Naz Karim
PUTRAJAYA: A member from the prosecution team in the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial was dropped after allegations that she was romantically linked to main complainant, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail yesterday told reporters that junior deputy public prosecutor Farah Azlina Latif was dropped from the prosecution team and also removed from the Chambers’ Prosecution Division.
This, Gani said, was to prevent negative public perception against the prosecution team in the sodomy trial.
The allegation was highlighted in a news portal last week.
Gani said as soon as the report was published in the news portal, the head of the prosecution team, Datuk Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden, immediately dropped Farah Azlina.
“In a meeting with senior officers from this division two days ago, we decided to remove her from the Prosecution Division as there were concerns that this could affect the credibility of the division,” Gani said.
Yusof, Prosecution Division chief Datuk Tun Abd Majid Tun Hamzah and another member of the prosecution team, Datuk Nordin Hassan, were also present.
On Monday, Anwar’s lawyers demanded that Gani respond to the allegation.
Counsel Sankara Nair told reporters that if the matter was not addressed, it could affect the ongoing trial which is set to resume on Aug 2.
Anwar is being prosecuted by an eight-man prosecution team comprising Yusof, Nordin, Mohamed Hanafiah Zakaria, Wong Chiang Kiat, Noorin Badaruddin, Mira Mirna Musa, Naidatul Athirah Azmad and Farah Azlina.
To date, Saiful and Farah Azlina have not commented on the allegation.
Gani said Farah Azlina, who had served the chambers for six years, joined the prosecution team on Jan 20 following the retirement of DPP Shamsul Sulaiman.
“Farah Azlina’s duty was to take notes of statements made in court. This included taking down questions and answers of the prosecution, the defence and witnesses.
“She was not directly involved in the hearing or had access to any documents, including investigation papers relating to the case,” said Gani, adding that she shared the duty with DPPs Mira Mirna and Naidatul Athirah.
“The two other junior DPPs will now take over her duty.”
Gani said his office always offered opportunities to young officers to be involved in high-profile cases, although their roles were limited to taking down notes.
Asked if Farah Azlina had been reprimanded by the Chambers for having a relationship with Saiful, Gani said an internal investigation would be carried out.
Anwar, the PKR de facto leader, is charged with sodomising Saiful at Unit 11-5-1 of the Desa Damansara Condominium in Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.
