Jill Ireland may cite Home Ministry for contempt

CDs confiscated in 2008 have not been returned to her despite the Court of Appeal's order last month

PETALING JAYA : Lawyer Annou Xavier said he will advise his client, Sarawakian Christian Jill Ireland Lawrence Bill, to cite the Home Ministry for contempt of court for its refusal to return eight compact discs (CDs) despite the Court of Appeal ordering its return previously.

The CDs had been confiscated by the authorities because they bore the word ‘Allah’ on them.

“Citing them for contempt is one of the options we have,” he told FMT.

He added that as of today, the CDs have not been returned. There has also been no application made by the government for leave to appeal to the Federal Court.

Annou added that he had even sent a notice dated July 22 to the Attorney-General’s Chambers seeking that the eight CDs be returned immediately, but that no reply has been forthcoming.

When asked how Jill, a Melanau clerk, felt about the matter, he said, “She is still shocked that she has not gotten them back, even though more than one month has passed (since the court issued the order).”

Last month, a panel of three judges in the Court of Appeal ruled that the immigration authorities’ act of seizing the CDs was bad of law. The court ordered that they be returned to her.

The Court of Appeal also directed that Jill’s cross-appeal which addresses her constitutional right to use the word ‘Allah’ in the practice of her religion be remitted to the High Court for consideration.

The High Court had ruled last year in Jill’s favour but had omitted to address constitutional questions relating to her fundamental liberties in its decision.

The CDs had been confiscated from Jill when she landed at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang on May 11, 2008. She filed for a judicial review against the government’s action three months later.