KUALA LUMPUR: The prosecution has been given the green light to continue prosecuting former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is facing criminal charges relating to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal by the new Attorney General.

Lead prosecutor Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram told the press that newly-minted Attorney General Tan Sri Idrus Harun had called him up and told him to "go ahead".

This includes prosecutions against other high profile figures as well.

"I understood that to be the position," he said when met at the graft trial of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor here on Monday (March 9).

On Friday (March 6), Idrus, who was a Federal Court judge, was appointed as the new AG replacing Tan Sri Tommy Thomas who resigned following the resignation of Tun Dr Mahthir Mohamad as prime minister.

The AG has the discretion to institute, conduct or discontinue any criminal case as provided under Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution.

During Thomas' tenure, he had appointed Sri Ram as a deputy public prosecutor to lead the prosecution team in the 1MDB-Tanore trial.

A former Federal Court judge, Sri Ram is also the lead prosecutor in the joint trial of Najib and former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy relating to the tampering of 1MDB audit report and Rosmah's graft trial relating to a solar hybrid project in Sarawak.

Meanwhile, prominent criminal lawyer Datuk V. Sithambaram was appointed as the lead prosecutor in Najib's SRC International Sdn Bhd case.

The AG is empowered to make such appointments under Section 376 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/03/09/new-ag-gives-green-light-to-1mdb-prosecution-team