Bar fails to challenge Zahid Hamidi’s DNAA

The High Court today rejected the Malaysian Bar’s application for leave to commence judicial review proceedings to challenge the attorney-general’s (AG) decision to discontinue the corruption case brought against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Justice Amarjeet Singh also dismissed the Bar’s application to refer several legal questions on Zahid’s case to the Federal Court.

“The subject matter is not amenable to judicial review. (The AG) also has no duty to furnish the documents (pertaining to the investigations into the case) to the Bar,” the judge said.

Lawyer Steven Thiru appeared for the Bar while senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan and Ahmad Hanir Hambaly represented the AG.

Lawyer Hisyam Teh represented the deputy prime minister.

Last year, another High Court granted Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over 47 charges of corruption, money laundering and criminal breach of trust.

The AG had sought the DNAA premised on representations made by Zahid’s defence team to the prosecution which claimed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was still investigating developments in the case.

In its application last year, the Bar sought leave to quash the AG’s decision to seek a DNAA, claiming it was “unreasonable and tainted with irrationality”.

The Bar wanted the court to compel the AG to disclose all information it had relied on and the basis of his decision to seek the conditional discharge.

 

Badan Peguam gagal cabar DNAA Zahid

MAHKAMAH Tinggi hari ini menolak permohonan Badan Peguam memulakan prosiding semakan kehakiman mencabar keputusan peguam negara untuk menghentikan kes rasuah Zahid Hamidi.

Hakim Amarjeet Singh turut menolak permohonan Badan Peguam untuk merujuk isu undang-undang tertentu berhubung kes itu kepada Mahkamah Persekutuan.

“Perkara ini bukan sesuatu yang boleh disemak oleh mahkamah. (Peguam negara) juga tidak mempunyai kewajipan memberikan dokumen (berkaitan siasatan kes itu) kepada Badan Peguam,” kata hakim.

Peguam Steven Thiru mewakili Badan Peguam manakala Peguam Kanan Persekutuan Shamsul Bolhassan dan Ahmad Hanir Hambaly mewakili peguam negara. Zahid diwakili Hisyam Teh selaku peguam.

Tahun lepas, Mahkamah Tinggi yang lain membenarkan Zahid dilepas tanpa dibebaskan (DNAA) atas 47 tuduhan rasuah, pengubahan wang haram dan pecah amanah.

Peguam negara memohon DNAA untuk Zahid berdasarkan representasi yang dibuat oleh pasukan pembelaan timbalan perdana menteri itu kepada pihak pendakwaan, menyatakan bahawa Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia masih menyiasat perkembangan kes itu.

Dalam permohonannya tahun lepas, Badan Peguam meminta kebenaran membatalkan keputusan peguam negara mendapatkan DNAA bagi Zahid atas dakwaan ia ‘tidak munasabah dan dicemari dengan ketidakrasionalan’.

Badan Peguam juga memohon perintah mandamus agar peguam negara mendedahkan semua maklumat yang dipercayainya dan asas keputusannya dalam mendapatkan DNAA.

 

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