KUALA LUMPUR: The graft trial involving Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is accused of misappropriating Yayasan Akal Budi (YAB) funds, has resumed with the notable absence of lead prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran.
Raja Rozela, who had been handling the case from the onset of the trial, has not shown up in court since the trial resumed on Monday. She was also absent from the hearing today.
However, attempts to get clarification on Raja Rozela's status in handling the case was met with stony silence from prosecutors who have taken over from Raja Rozela.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, when met after the trial, today refused to comment.
The New Straits Times has also reached out to Attorney-General Tan Sri Idrus Harun for clarification on Raja Rozela's status.
However, he has yet to respond to queries.
Another prosecutor when asked about it just said: "I cannot say whether she is permanently taken off the case."
Raja Rozela has previously had numerous run-ins with Zahid in court, including telling him that "politics and money just cannot be separated".
She said this when cross examining Zahid.
Meanwhile, during today's hearing, the seventh defence witness Datuk Rosiah Osman testified on the usage of Zahid's signature stamps.
She testified that throughout her 18 years tenure as Zahid's executive secretary, he had never permitted for his signature stamp to be used to sign off any cheques.
She said this was the case regardless of whether he's around or away on overseas trips.
Rosiah also testified that Zahid had never given any permission to pay for his car insurance or road tax as well as his credit card bills including his wife's credit card using YAB's funds.
Zahid, 70, is facing 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, graft and money laundering involving YAB funds and he has been ordered to enter his defence against all charges.
The trial before Court of Appeal judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who presided over the case as High Court judge, continues on Monday.
