Umno lawyer given until May 29 to respond to Bar, senior lawyers

Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah taking part in an Umno-sponsored roadshow on February 17, shortly after the conviction of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy. Shafee is suing the Malaysian Bar and two senior lawyers for defamation. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, May 26, 2015.

Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who has filed a defamation suit against the Malaysian Bar and two senior lawyers, has been given until Friday to respond to the defence.

Lawyer Andrew Chiew, who is appearing for the Bar and former president of the Malaysian Bar Christopher Leong, said judge Datuk Asmabi Mohamad made the order in chambers following an application by counsel for Shafee.

Yesterday's application was the third extension given to Shafee.

He said a case management would be held on June 1 with the likelihood of a trial date being fixed.

Chiew also said that Asmabi would deliver her ruling on June 23 whether to extend Shafee's injunction to prevent any discussion on his conduct during roadshows following the conviction of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy.

On March 31, Shafee, who is represented by Datuk Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, obtained a fresh injunction to preserve his client's action against the Malaysian Bar, Leong, and lawyers Tommy Thomas and Tan Sri V.C. George.

Shafee filed the defamation a suit as well as the injunction to restrain the four from discussing his conduct at the Malaysian Bar annual general meeting on March 14.

He had obtained the 21-day ex-parte injunction on March 13 to stop lawyers from debating a motion filed by Thomas and seconded by George at the AGM.

Thomas and George had urged the Bar Council to act against Shafee over his conduct following Anwar's conviction by the Federal Court.

They said that from the time the Federal Court convicted Anwar on February 10, Shafee had behaved in a repugnant and obnoxious manner which brought the legal profession into disrepute.

Shafee had gone on a roadshow to discuss the finding of the Federal Court and was said to have revealed evidence given in camera.

In their motion submitted for the AGM, the two senior lawyers urged the council to lodge a report against Shafee with the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board.

They said steps had to be taken to further prevent Shafee from bringing the legal profession into disrepute.

Shafee, who was appointed by Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to lead the prosecution team in the Sodomy II appeal, was accused of wilfully and with impunity:

– holding press conferences condemning Anwar who could not respond as a convicted prisoner serving time;

– drawing attention to his prowess, allegedly as a top rate prosecutor;

– demeaning Anwar and his legal team, and the defence they had relied on in court proceedings;

– giving interviews with the traditional and online media on his performance as prosecutor; and,

– organising and participating in nationwide roadshows with a political party, with the purpose of insulting a convicted prisoner and for bringing attention to his role in the conviction.

Shafee is said to have violated the Legal Profession (Publicity) Rules 2001 which prohibits lawyers from publicising themselves or their practice in any manner.

- TMI