Karpal: It’s elementary but beyond Nazri’s comprehension

The Witness Protection Act cannot apply to criminals but only to protect witnesses, says the veteran lawyer.

PETALING JAYA: Senior lawyer and DAP chairman Karpal Singh today said the authorities should not give special treatment to the Datuk T trio who had exposed a sex video involving a man resembling Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

He said that the trio – former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Tamby Chik, businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and Perkasa treasurer Shuib Lazim – should be arrested immediately for their alleged role in making the sex video public.

Karpal was especially peeved with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz who had suggested yesterday that the trio will be protected under the Witness Protection Act and Whistleblower Act should the authorities feel they have a case.

“Nazri’s ill-advised comment that the messenger should not be shot clearly reflects the low level of the law this minister has encompassed during his time at law school. He needs a refresher course in law,” said Karpal in a statement.

He pointed out that the trio, having had publicly admitted of being responsible for keeping and screening the sex video to journalists last week, had in fact committed offences under Section 5 of the Film Censorship Act 2002 and Section 292 of the Penal Code.

These sections refer to having possession and displaying obscene material, and punishable by a maximum jail sentence of five years and/or a fine of RM50,000 under the Film Censorship Act and a maximum jail term of three years and a fine under the Penal Code.

“These are no petty offences. They are serious offences (which) were committed directly under the noses of the police in Bukit Aman which is only a stone’s throw away from Carcosa Seri Negara where the video clip was shown,” he said.

He said that the trio has defied the law and were still at large.

“I find it difficult to understand why they are being given special treatment by the authorities… the Witness Protection Act cannot apply to criminals, it only applies to witnesses,” he said.

“This is elementary but beyond the comprehension of Nazri, which is expected. He is the de facto law minister and much more is expected of him in that capacity,” added Karpal.

Anwar had denied being in the video and had lodged a police report. - FMT