KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 6): Datuk Seri Najib Razak was today ordered to leave the court when he turned up to support his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor during a graft hearing after deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib pointed out that he is a potential witness, whose statement has been recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Rosmah's lawyers Datuk Jagjit Singh and Datuk Akberdin Abdul Kader were quick to question the prosecution's move as there is no indication in the prosecution's list that Najib would be called as a witness.
Jagjit said Najib was in court to support his wife like any loving husband would do.
"Hence, the prosecution should have provided a provisional list to the defence team to show whom they had questioned, and whom they intend to call as witnesses," he said.
Akberdin pointed out that Najib was in court yesterday, and that it had not been an issue with the prosecution.
The former premier entered the courtroom at about 10:40am today when the fourth prosecution witness Shamsul Rizal Sharbini, 42, was answering questions by Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohamed Mustafa P Kunyalam.
Dressed in a short-sleeved red shirt, he sat in the gallery behind Rosmah.
Ahmad Akram then objected to his presence, prompting Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan to ask Najib to leave his courtroom.
During Najib's trial in relation to the misuse of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds, Rosmah had also attended court once to provide support. However, the prosecution had objected to her presence, also on the grounds that she was a potential witness in the case.
The objection was made by ad hoc prosecutor Datuk V Sithambaram when former Tabung Haji chief executive officer Tan Sri Ismee Ismail — also the former chairman of SRC's board of directors — was testifying in court.