In a significant legal development, Malaysia's Federal Court has dismissed Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's final appeal to remove Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan from presiding over her corruption trial. This decision upholds the conviction in the RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project case, where Rosmah was found guilty of soliciting and receiving bribes related to the project intended for rural schools in Sarawak.
Rosmah's legal team had argued that Justice Mohamed Zaini should be recused due to allegations of a leaked draft judgment, suggesting potential bias. However, the Federal Court unanimously rejected this claim, stating that there was no "real danger of bias" and that the judge had not breached the Judges' Code of Ethics. The court emphasized that the trial judge had prepared his judgment based on his own research and the parties' submissions, without relying on any draft prepared by a third party.
This ruling concludes Rosmah's attempts to challenge the trial judge's impartiality, paving the way for her main appeal against the conviction and sentence to proceed. The Court of Appeal had previously granted her a stay of execution pending the outcome of this appeal, allowing her to remain free during the legal proceedings.
The case has attracted significant public attention, given Rosmah's status as the wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. The outcome of her appeal could have broader implications for Malaysia's legal and political landscape, particularly concerning high-profile corruption cases and the integrity of the judiciary.
As the legal process continues, observers will be closely watching the Court of Appeal's handling of Rosmah's main appeal, which is expected to address the merits of the corruption charges and the appropriateness of the imposed sentence.