KUALA LUMPUR - The High Court today issued a show-cause notice to former Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam for obstructing a policeman from carrying out his duty and saying that the country’s legal system is unfair.
Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah ordered the Laskar Siber Malaysia president to appear in court on Monday with his lawyer to state the reason why he should not be cited for contempt of court.
This was after deputy public prosecutor Datuk Raja Rozela Raja Toran pointed out to the court that Lokman who was sitting at the public gallery had scolded the policeman.
It happened during the proceedings of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's trial on 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering.
Raja Rozela said the incident started when the policeman known as Lance Corporal Walter warned Lokman about using his phone during the court proceedings.
"He (Lokman) called Lance Corporal Walter stupid. The person has been identified as Lokman Adam. He was rude and this is unacceptable," she said.
Sequerah then asked Adam why he acted in such a way in court.
To this, Lokman said he was taking notes of what transpired in the proceedings on his phone.
Lokman: My friend was allowed to take notes using a laptop but why am I not allowed to take notes using a phone, its not fair, I can prove that I was typing.
Sequerah: You are obstructing the police's duty. I will issue a show-cause notice to you. Do you want to appoint a lawyer?.
Raja Rozela: If the notice is issued now, we can continue with the proceedings or stand down. I hope this can continue because I do not want him to escape.
Lokman: I intend to appoint a lawyer.
Meanwhile, Zahid's lawyer Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal said he will be acting as the 'amicus curiae' (friend of court) and asked the court to give Lokman the chance to appoint a lawyer and to appear before the court, next week.
On July 15, last year, Lokman was sentenced to a months' jail by the High Court, here, for contempt of court by threatening a witness in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial.
Sequerah made the decision after finding Lokman guilty of the offence.
The court found that Lokman's action to lodge a police report against Datuk Amhari Efendi Nazaruddin who was Datuk Seri Najib Razak's fomer special officer was to intimidate and threat the victim.