Former lead DPP in Ahmad Zahid’s corruption trial among nine appointed as judicial commissioners

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 — Former lead prosecutor in deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption case, Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran, was among the nine individuals who were appointed as High Court Judicial Commissioners today.

Raja Rozela, who hails from Kedah, was also former director of the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) prosecution division's Special Litigation Unit before her retirement in August.

She received her appointment letter from Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, and took her oath in front of her and Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidin Md Diah.

Former lead prosecutor in deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption case, Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran, was among the nine individuals who were appointed as High Court Judicial Commissioners today. — Screencap from The Malaysian Judiciary YouTube

Also present during the ceremony were Court of Appeal Tan Sri Amar Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli.

Raja Rozela had led the prosecution team since Zahid’s Yayasan Akalbudi trial began on November 18, 2019 and throughout the time that 99 prosecution witnesses were called to testify at the trial.

Raja Rozela was also still the lead prosecutor when six defence witnesses including Zahid himself testified during the trial.

The last time that Raja Rozela appeared in court for Zahid’s case was on April 10 this year, which was when the High Court was informed of Ahmad Zahid’s submission of a second representation letter to the attorney general on the case and during which the case was postponed to August while the AGC studied his representation and awaited the outcome of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) planned further investigation into the case.

Apart from Raja Rozela, eight of the Judicial Commissioners included, former lawyer Arziah Mohamed Apandi; former senior federal counsel at the AGC and former lawyer Datuk Mohd Hazizah Kassim; lawyer and former Atlan Holdings Bhd and Naluri Bhd executive director Kan Weng Hin; former housing tribunal president Gan Techiong; lawyer Suriyati Hashimah Mohd Hashim; and lawyer Mohd Rosli Yusoff.

A full list of the appointees and their background can be accessed at the Office of the Chief Registrar Federal Court of Malaysia here: https://www.kehakiman.gov.my/en/press-release