Ex-prosecutor in Zahid graft case appointed judicial commissioner
Raja Rozela Raja Toran, who last held the post of Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) prosecution division deputy head, received her appointment letter from Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya this afternoon.
She then took her...
The former deputy public prosecutor behind the Yayasan Akalbudi corruption case against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been appointed as judicial commissioner.
Raja Rozela Raja Toran, who last held the post of Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) prosecution division deputy head, received her appointment letter from Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya this afternoon.
She then took her oath before Chief Judge of Malaya Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah.
Having entered the AGC in 1991, she rose through the ranks and led the prosecution in the Yayasan Akalbudi and foreign visa system (VLN) corruption cases against Umno president Zahid.
On Sept 4, prosecutors - by this point no longer led by Raja Rozela - had applied to drop the 47 graft charges against the Bagan Datuk MP, leading to the criminal court granting a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
Malaysian judicial system
On Sept 23 last year, the Shah Alam High Court acquitted Zahid of all 33 VLN graft charges. However, the prosecution has an appeal before the Court of Appeal to reverse this ruling.
Raja Rozela, who hailed from Kuala Terengganu, opted for early retirement in October this year.
The 58-year-old was among 10 individuals who was appointed judicial commissioner this afternoon.
Under the Malaysian judicial system, judicial commissioners have the power to hear High Court cases.
Unlike a judge who has security of tenure enshrined under the Federal Constitution, a judicial commissioner's appointment is for two years.
Depending on his or her performance, a judicial commissioner may be appointed as a full-fledged judge after the two-year tenure.
