MCO extension complicates court cases - lawyers

CORONAVIRUS | Extension of the movement control order (MCO) is giving disastrous effect on court cases, including high-profile cases, according to the legal fraternity.

Criminal lawyer N Sivananthan (above) said many of his cases on trial were nearing conclusion when the MCO came into effect.

However, with the order extended to April 28, he said, at least 20 trials involving his clients who are under remand could not proceed and new dates have to be fixed.

"This will, of course, overlap with cases that have already been fixed and it is going to be a logistical nightmare trying to fit all the cases in.

"For example, the trial involving the late deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais was about to be concluded when the MCO came into effect and it is anyone’s guess when this trial is going to conclude," said Sivananthan, who is representing army doctor Colonel R Kunaseegaran, the fifth accused in Kevin Morais' murder trial.

Sharing the same sentiment, lawyer K Kumaraendran said that due to the MCO, the flow of cases has been interrupted.

"When there is a long break, we need to refresh our clients and it’s time consuming. For me, the court must give priority to all cases, such as kidnapping and drug cases, not only high-profile cases," he said.

When asked how he intends to liaise with his clients during this tumultuous period, Kumaraendran said he contacts his clients through email.

Kumaraendran is representing Bung Mokhtar Radin in a corruption case and former Treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar, who is jointly charged with former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak for criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving government funds.

Meanwhile, lawyer Harvinderjit Singh, representing Najib in the SRC International case, said, even though postponement of the cases did cause delay, it was a "necessary evil".

"We are dealing with a very serious pandemic and action such as the MCO has been proven to be the best solution. So everyone needs to be patient and eventually we will get back to court," he added.

- Bernama