This comes after New Straits Times, quoting sources, reported that Raja Rozela had been taken off the case. She had been absent during proceedings last week.
When contacted, Raja Rozela simply told the news outlet: “I am a public servant, I am not allowed to comment. My apologies.”
FMT’s attempts to obtain Idrus’ comment on the matter were unsuccessful.
Pejuang information chief Rafique Rashid Ali said the attorney-general cannot remain silent on the matter and must offer an explanation.
With Zahid’s Yayasan Akalbudi case now at the defence stage, Rafique pointed out that Raja Rozela had been handling the case from the start and was successful in establishing a prima facie case against the Umno president.
“So, why the need to replace the lead deputy public prosecutor now? The attorney-general cannot stay silent. The people are watching and evaluating,” he said in a Facebook post.
Zahid is standing trial on 47 charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving millions from Yayasan Akalbudi, which he founded, and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as the home minister.
Twelve of the charges are for CBT, eight for corruption, and the remaining 27 for money laundering.
Last week, the prosecution told the High Court that it is still considering Zahid’s representations concerning his ongoing corruption case.