Gani should be probed too, says lawyers group

Lawyers for Liberty reminds ex-chief justice of the former AG's role in selective prosecutions.

Former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, who was sacked in 2015.

PETALING JAYA: Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) today called for former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail to be investigated over his conduct in the Altantuya Shaariibuu case as well as other earlier cases during his time as head of prosecution.

The rights group said Gani’s conduct as prosecutor during the murder trial of Mongolian citizen Altantuya Shaariibuu was questionable, adding that he was also guilty of selective prosecution against Anwar Ibrahim in the late 1990s.

N Surendran

In the Altantuya trial, LFL adviser N Surendran said, Gani “shockingly refused to appeal the acquittal of Abdul Razak Baginda”.

Razak was an aide to former prime minister Najib Razak, who was acquitted of the murder charge without his defence being called.

Surendran also recalled Gani’s role in “notorious reformasi-era, politically motivated prosecutions” including the reportedly forced confession, prosecution and jailing of Anwar’s former speech writer Munawar Anees.

The PKR lawyer was responding to remarks by former chief justice Abdul Hamid Mohamad, who recently criticised Attorney-General (AG) Tommy Thomas as inexperienced and compared him unfavourably with Gani.

“This is bizarre and laughable,” said Surendran.

He said the Altantuya case had now become so discredited that the police and the new government had announced the reopening of the murder investigation.

“Gani himself should be investigated over his actions in the Altantuya case and the other earlier cases.

“Is Hamid seriously holding up Gani as an example against the untainted Tommy Thomas?” asked Surendran. -Mkini