PETALING JAYA – Set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to look into the allegations by Court of Appeal Judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer regarding judicial impropriety, says the National Patriots Association (Patriot).
Patriot president Brig-Jen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji said this was the only way the nation would know if the judge was indeed speaking the truth.
“Even if it brings shame to our nation, in general, and the judiciary, in particular, and however painful the process of uncovering the truth may be, we have to be brave and welcome the RCI.
“Only then, after the truth is known, lessons are learned and remedial actions are taken, can our nation and society be truly exorcised of a haunted past.
“Patriot asks members of the judiciary who are untainted to be brave, and that all Malaysians stand in unity to face this painful episode,” said Mohamed Arshad in a statement Friday (Feb 15).
On Thursday (Feb 14), Hamid made shocking claims in court papers, alleging scams between certain top judges and private litigants to cheat the government.
The revelation was contained in his 65-page affidavit filed in support of an application by Sangeet Kaur Deo, daughter of the late lawyer Karpal Singh, to declare that the Chief Justice had failed to defend the integrity of the judiciary in two cases.
Hamid said the scams were carried out by nominees of politicians getting into contracts with the government.
Once the government pulled out of a deal, the private parties would take the government to court to claim compensation.
He alleged that these private parties created contracts with the government to defraud public funds, and the apex court was perceived to be sympathetic to them.
– ANN
LFL: We have proof of further interference with judiciary
Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) has backed Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer’s call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the judiciary.
LFL advisor N. Surendran said that they too have evidence of alleged judicial interference by a judge who they believe is the same one identified by Hamid as ‘ARLC’.
“(We have) collected a range of evidence of interference with subordinate court judges in politically sensitive matters.
“This includes an incident where a top judge interfered with a high profile ‘political’ prosecution at the Shah Alam Sessions Court during BN rule.
“We believe this top judge may be the same ARLC referred to by Justice Hamid Sultan. We are prepared to provide all information to an RCI,” Surendran said in a statement today.
In his affidavit yesterday, Hamid claimed ARLC interfered in a majority decision which was initially to acquit the late DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh of his charge under the Sedition Act.
Surendran said ARLC’s identity must be established by an RCI and he must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law if found guilty.
Surendran said Hamid’s revelations were proof of BN’s long-term interference with the judiciary.
“The interference was in favour of the then BN government and its leaders, and to the detriment of opponents of the BN and the government.
“This disclosure cannot be taken lightly as it comes from a sitting judge of the court of appeal.
“It must be taken as strong evidence of serious misconduct and wrongdoing in the highest levels of our judiciary, at the behest of the BN regime,” he said.
Hamid has said he would reveal more in an RCI, but expressed regret that Chief Justice Richard Malanjum is not seeking one.
His affidavit was filed in support of lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo’s application to declare that the chief justice failed to defend the integrity and credibility of the judiciary over two alleged incidents of judicial interference.
– M’kini
-ANN / MKINI
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.