Former attorney-general Tommy Thomas said he appointed Gopal Sri Ram as deputy public prosecutor in 2018 to handle high-profile criminal cases including Rosmah Mansor’s corruption case involving an RM1.25 billion solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak.

Thomas, 69, said the appointment was in accordance with Section 376 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC), as Sri Ram was under his general control and directive and was in a position to exercise all the powers of the public prosecutor.

“I myself empowered him (Sri Ram) in my capacity as public prosecutor...