KUALA LUMPUR: Senior lawyer Datuk Dr Gurdial Singh Nijar took a swipe at the prosecution for challenging the medical certificate (MC) issued to the late Tun Daim Zainuddin during the previous hearing.
Gurdial, the lead counsel for the former finance minister, made this statement at the court's lobby after the Sessions Court acquitted his client of all charges for failing to declare his assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today.
Gurdial highlighted the prosecution's actions during the last hearing, when two deputy public prosecutors cast doubt on the MC issued for Daim's absence.
They had questioned the validity of the MC, despite the court excusing the accused from attending that day's proceedings.
"Their harsh remarks even extended to questioning the doctors and staff who issued the MC.
"They renewed their application for a mental evaluation of Tun Daim. How an MC regarding physical condition could lead to questioning one's sanity shows the extent to which the prosecution has gone.
"I hope the DPPs can now see for themselves that his MC was for real and not a contrivance to avoid an appearance in court."
Meanwhile, DPP Datuk Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin, who led the prosecution team, said: "The MC was signed by a nurse, which prompted my DPPs to question the validity of the document.
"I thought the matter had been settled in today's proceeding.
"It is very unprofessional of Gurdial to criticise us without giving us the opportunity to defend ourselves.
"I thought all parties had put closure on this issue," he said when contacted.
Earlier, Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi acquitted Daim of all charges for failing to declare his assets to MACC.
The court also dismissed the prosecution's application for Daim to undergo a mental evaluation to assess whether he was fit for trial.
Daim, 86, died on Nov 13 while receiving treatment at Assunta Hospital.
Daim, whose full name was Che Abdul Daim Zainuddin, was charged with failing to declare assets, including a bank account, seven luxury vehicles, 38 companies and 25 properties, to MACC at its headquarters in Putrajaya on Dec 13 last year.