No more orange suit for MACC suspects in court

The practice of bringing suspects to court in orange lock-up suits has been criticised by rights lawyers.

PUTRAJAYA: Suspects arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will no longer be made to wear the orange lock-up uniform when they are produced in court, a practice which sparked criticism from rights lawyers who say it is a violation of prison regulations as well as constitutional rights.

This is part of several reforms by the anti-graft commission under its new chief Latheefa Koya who is expected to announce it officially tomorrow.

“I have given orders that all persons arrested by MACC no longer have to put up with the orange uniform,” Latheefa said in an interview with FMT today.

“No more orange uniform,” she added.

Instead, suspects will only wear the orange suit in the lock-up.

Latheefa also said new rules on handcuffing detainees will be announced tomorrow.

In 2017, MACC came under criticism over its practice of producing graft suspects in court clad in the commission’s orange lock-up suit.

Among the critics were rights lawyer N Surendran, who said it was a violation of prison regulations, civil as well as constitutional rights.

Then chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad had however defended the practice.

Among high-profile suspects who were brought to court clad in the orange suit were former Felda chairman Isa Samad and Penang exco Phee Boon Poh. - FMT