Rantau returning officer freed by Court of Appeal from contempt conviction

The Court of Appeal today has set aside a contempt of court conviction against Election Commission (EC) returning officer Amino Agus Suyub, who last year was found guilty of coaching a witness in an election petition hearing.

According to his lawyer G Rajasingam, a three-member COA panel made a unanimous decision to allow Amino's appeal against the conviction by Seremban Election Court.

Rajasingam said the higher court also set aside Amino's three-month jail sentence, and ordered for the case to be reheard by the High Court.

"We were arguing that there was serious procedural unfairness (in Agus' contempt proceedings), and because of this, his constitutional rights to a fair trial was denied under Article 5 and 8 of the Federal Constitution.

"So, the court agreed, and thus they set aside the conviction, the sentencing, and remitted it back to the high court," he told Malaysiakini when contacted today.

Amino, who was the returning officer for Rantau election last year, was found in contempt of court by Justice Azimah Omar after finding him guilty of sending text messages to his assistant, Daing Muhamad Rahimi, in order to coach Daing on how to answer questions.

This happened during the trial for an election petition filed by Dr S Streram for the Rantau state seat, in which Amino and Daing were called to testify.

[More to follow] - Mkini