MACC’s lawyer almost cited for contempt

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SHAH ALAM: The inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock saw some tense moments yesterday with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) lawyer almost being cited for contempt because he made certain remarks about lawyer Karpal Singh’s disability.During the proceedings, lawyer Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, who is acting for the MACC, had said “I can sit but you cannot stand” to Karpal Singh, who is wheelchair-bound.

A war of words then ensued between Abdul Razak and Karpal Singh and his son lawyer Gobind Singh, who is holding a watching brief for Beng Hock’s family, leading to the latter two demanding Abdul Razak be cited for contempt of court.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas, however, decided otherwise after Abdul Razak made an apology but was given a reminder not to repeat what he did.

Abdul Razak had made the comment after Karpal Singh, who is representing Beng Hock’s brother Meng Kee in an application to cite two MACC officers for contempt-of-court, had several times interrupted him (Abdul Razak) from making objections and told him to sit down.

Abdul Razak had wanted to object to Karpal’s stating Beng Hock was murdered with the possibility of MACC officers being involved in the deed.

Karpal Singh, however, had refused to accept Abdul Razak’s apology saying it was not sincere and continued to urge the coroner to cite him for contempt.

Azmil after issuing the reminder to Abdul Razak then asked Karpal Singh to proceed with his submission on the application but Karpal remained adamant that contempt action should be taken against Abdul Razak and asked the court to fine him RM150 and spend a day in jail for contempt-of-court under the Lower Courts Act 1948.

Lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, who is holding a watching brief for the Selangor government, also joined in the debate and asked the court to take the matter seriously saying the comment reflected Abdul Razak’s insensitive attitude.

Abdul Razak then stood up again and said: “The court can send me to jail or give me a warning, but I had no intention to insult or ridicule Mr Karpal Singh. What I meant just now was that Mr Karpal Singh can ask me to sit, but I cannot ask him to stand up.”

The inquest resumes next Friday.

Beng Hock, a political aide to Selangor state executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on the 5th floor of Plaza Masalam in Shah alam on July 16 after being quizzed by Selangor MACC at its office on the 14th floor of the same building the previous day as a witness in a probe into alleged misappropriation Selangor government funds by certain assemblymen in the state. — Bernama