Judge in Najib's trial was randomly selected

KUALA LUMPUR: The selection of High Court Judge Datuk Mohd Sofian Abd Razak to preside over the trial of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who was charged with criminal breach of trust and abuse of power, was done randomly.
Federal Court Chief Registrar's Office in a statement here today said that from June 13, 2017, the registration of criminal cases at the Lower Court and High Court in Kuala Lumpur had been done online through its e-filing portal (https://efs.kehakiman.gov.my).
It said the registration process began when the prosecutors filed their cases in the e-filing system which would then distribute it randomly to judges handling criminal cases.
"In reference to the Prosecutor v. Datuk Seri Najib bin Haji Abd Razak case filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 4, 2018, the registration and distribution of the case was done randomly by the system to the High Court 3, Criminal Division, Kuala Lumpur High Court," the statement said.
The High Court 3 Judge is Mohd Sofian.
Last Wednesday, Najib, 65, pleaded not guilty before Mohd Sofian to three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of power abuse involving SRC International Sdn Bhd's funds totalling RM42 million.
It was reported earlier that the Malaysian Bar had called for Mohd Sofian to recuse himself from the trial as his elder brother, Datuk Seri Mohd Soffi, has a position in UMNO and the Pahang state government. — Bernama