Taib's son absent from contempt case

The son of Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, Mahmud Abu Bekir, was a no-show at his contempt case which came up at the Kuala Lumpur Syariah High Court today.

This prompted lawyers representing his former wife Shahnaz A Majid to apply for a warrant of arrest to be issued against Mahmud.

Rafie Mohd Shafie told the court that the application for contempt against Mahmud (left in photo) was served to the latter on Dec 26, and today was fixed for mention.

Rafie said that this was not the first time that the chief minister's son was absent from court.

Mahmud's lawyer then told the court that his client was overseas and proceeded to apply to set-aside Shahnaz's contempt application.

However, Rafie objected as the former claimed that Mahmud had no right to appeal on the contempt issue until Shanaz’s application is heard, hence, it cannot be set-aside.

Judge Mohamad Abdullah then asked both parties to file a written submission on the matter and fixed Feb 26 for decision on whether to initiate contempt proceeding or set-aside the application.

Feb 26 was also fixed for the continued hearing of the division of the mutaah (gift) following Mahmud’s divorce with Shahnaz.

Today's contempt proceeding was initiated after Mahmud Bekir allegedly failed to comply with the court's order on May 9, 2011, to furnish details of his assets in Malaysia and abroad, following the couple’s divorce.

The pair were divorced on May 11, 2009.

[More to follow]