KUALA LUMPUR: Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor is likely to consider seeking the recusal of Judicial Commissioner Leong Wai Hong from presiding over the US$346 million lawsuit filed against her by 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), reports said.
According to the report published by The Edge yesterday, Leong had replaced trial judge Adlin Abdul Majid for the case management that was heard on Thursday after the latter was transferred to the intellectual property court.
The report said that the wife of the former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak may file a legal bid to recuse Leong as the latter was previously a partner with Messrs Skrine before joining the judiciary.
Messrs Skrine is the law firm representing 1MDB in its main lawsuit against Najib and the office bearers of the sovereign wealth fund.
The firm, on behalf of 1MDB, obtained an ex-parte Mareva injunction related to its US$681 million claim against the former prime minister in 2022.
A Mareva injunction is a court order that freezes a defendant's assets to prevent them from being dissipated before the conclusion of a legal action.
Rosmah, the report said, has also appointed a new set of solicitors, Messrs Nandrajog, effective Sept 23, replacing her previous lawyers, Messrs Reza Rahim & Rajivan.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Rosmah failed in her bid to recuse Adlin from presiding over the lawsuit filed by 1MDB against her.
Adlin, in dismissing the application, had said that Rosmah, as the first defendant, failed to demonstrate that there was a real danger of bias in her continuing to preside over the matter.
Rosmah, in her application notice, claimed Adlin was a partner of a law firm that used to represent the sovereign wealth fund.
She claimed Adlin previously practiced as an advocate and solicitor at law firm Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill (LHAG), where she was appointed as a partner between March 2011 and March 2021.