Politics · Malaysia Bureau
Ex-1MDB chief's silence frustrates defence counsel in court
A senior counsel has sought court intervention after the former 1Malaysia Development Berhad chief declined to answer 15 questions during cross-examination. Senior Counsel GK Ganesan urged the judge to compel Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi to provide substantive responses.
LSN Malaysia ·
Senior Counsel GK Ganesan has expressed frustration with former 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi's repeated refusals to answer questions during ongoing court proceedings, requesting judicial intervention to compel the witness to respond.
Ganesan submitted a formal application asking the court to direct Shahrol to answer approximately 15 questions that the witness had declined to address during cross-examination. The lawyer argued that the witness's consistent "no comment" replies were obstructing the proper conduct of the trial and preventing the court from hearing relevant evidence.
The situation highlights the challenges faced by defence counsel in obtaining testimony from key figures in cases related to the scandal-plagued sovereign wealth fund. Shahrol's position as former chief executive of 1MDB has made him a central figure in multiple legal proceedings stemming from investigations into alleged financial mismanagement and fraud at the institution.
Court intervention in such matters typically requires judges to balance witness rights against the interests of justice and the fairness of proceedings. The outcome of Ganesan's application could set precedent for how courts handle witness non-cooperation during testimony.
The case continues to attract attention as authorities pursue accountability measures related to the 1MDB scandal, which has drawn international scrutiny and resulted in numerous criminal investigations.