Judge who alleged abuses in judiciary slapped with show-cause letter

A senior judge who alleged abuses and fraud in the judiciary has been slapped with a show-cause letter.

Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer had made the claims in an affidavit in February last year, prompting the then Pakatan Harapan government to mull a royal commission of inquiry(RCI). 

However, the RCI did not materialise as the Harapan government collapsed in late February.

Hamid Sultan's lawyer Joy Wilson Appukuttan confirmed that his client had received the show-cause letter, according to Free Malaysia Today.

"I will be replying to the notice within the 30-day period," he was quoted as saying.

The report said the show-cause letter was issued last Tuesday by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, who also chairs the Judges' Ethics Committee.

Apart from asking that he explain the affidavit, the letter also wanted Hamid Sultan to explain a recent judgment in which he had remarked that the courts should ensure the Federal Constitution is not amended against public interest and fundamental liberties, according to the report.

Hamid Sultan, in his affidavit, had among others alleged that certain judges had intervened in high-profile cases.

A substantial part of his affidavit had since been expunged. 

Hamid Sultan is scheduled to retire next year. - Mkini