Lawyer facing flak sees no wrong in EAIC role

 Lawyer Salehudin Saidin has denied that his presence as a panel member will undermine the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) in carrying out its duties to investigate and eliminate cases of custodial death and police abuse.

Salehudin, who has come under fire over reports that herepresented a police personnel accused of murdering detainee N Dhamendran, said that he had ceased taking such cases in his personal capacity ever since the EAIC was formed in 2011.

He was referring to the actions of PKR legal and human rights bureau head Latheefa Koya (right), who today questioned his presence in the commission's six-member panel.

She had said this was because he had previously served as defence lawyer in other similar cases - appearing for pathologist Dr Abdul Karim Tajuddin who prepared death-in-custody A Kugan's first post-mortem report, and in the B Prabakar hot water torture case.

In the case of Abdul Karim, Salehudin told Malaysiakini that he had only represented the latter during case mention, before being discharged.

"That was three to four years ago. At the time, the EAIC had yet to be formed," he said when contacted.

"Don't tell me, as a lawyer, that there are cases and clients that I cannot accept?

"There is no conflict. Why is she (Latheefa) making a big issue out of this?"

In the case of Corp Mohd Haswadi Zamri Shaari, charged on June 5 for Dhamendran's murder, Salehudin said his legal assistant had accepted the case without his knowledge.

"I was not aware of it at the time as I was away. The EAIC, too, had yet to make its decision to form an enquiry," he said, adding that he immediately withdrew from the case when he came to know about it.

When asked if he would defend the accused in similar cases if there was no inquiry by the EAIC, Salehudin stressed that he would never take any case that would conflict with his responsibilities as a panel member of the EAIC.

"If you can show me any cases of conflict, tell me and I will withdraw. Why would I accept such a case? I am not that kind of person."

Salehudin, who was previously a prosecutor with the Attorney-General's Chambers, is best remembered for being dropped as a prosecutor in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial. 

He entered private practice soon after.