Judge calls for MACC prosecutor Morais to testify first

MACC told to ensure sequential narration of facts.

KUALA LUMPUR: High Court Judge Su Geok Yiam, presiding over the on-going court battle between lawyer Rosli Dahlan and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), this morning insisted that the MACC call its witnesses in such a way as to ensure the sequential narration of the facts of the case.

Proceedings had opened today with MACC’s counsel Rishwant Singh informing the court that chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohammed was in Doha attending an international meeting on anti-corruption and, as such, would not be able to take the stand this week.

That led Justice Su Geok Yiam to ask whether Rosli’s legal team led by Chetan Jethwani had any objection to Abu Kassim, the fifth defendant, not testifying first. They replied that they had none.

The first four defendants, which comprise Utusan Malaysia, its editor and journalists, are no longer parties to the action having settled Rosli’s claim against them just as the trial was about to begin in April this year.

Having explained away Abu Kassim’s attendance, Rishwant attempted to call the eighth-named defendant, Azmi Bin Ismail, to testify first rather than Anthony Kevin Morais, who was sixth on the list.

Appearing irked by this, Justice Su asked counsel why Morais was not taking the stand first, claiming that she wanted the narration of the case to be in sequence, which would require the defence witnesses being called according to the list of witnesses previously furnished.

In reply, Rishwant told the court that Morais had not been scheduled for today.

Despite this, the court ruled that Morais ought to take the stand, leaving MACC’s defence team having to summon Morais to the courthouse to testify after lunch.