High-profile cases must be halted if politically motivated, says former Speaker
Such actions risked unjust treatment of the accused and undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system.
SHAH ALAM – Former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun has called for an immediate halt to high-profile cases if it is confirmed that prosecutions during the Pakatan Harapan 1.0 administration are rushed and politically driven.
Azhar said such actions risked unjust treatment of the accused and undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system.
"I find the statement shocking and it has serious implications for Malaysia’s criminal justice system. If proven to be true, such prosecutions should be stopped immediately.
"Take for example, the case involving the wife of the former prime minister Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who was recently acquitted.
"The judge stated that the charges against Rosmah were flawed under the law and lacked any elements of wrongdoing under the the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
"This raises the perception that the Attorney General might have erred in drafting these charges," he told Sinar.
On Dec 19, the Kuala Lumpur High Court discharged and acquitted Rosmah of 12 charges of money laundering involving RM7 million, as well as five charges of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.
Judge K. Muniandy granted an order of acquittal after allowing the 73-year-old’s application to have all charges against her quashed.
Despite this, the prosecution filed an appeal against the decision on Friday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during a press conference on Saturday, denied involvement in Rosmah’s case but admitted that certain prosecutions made post-14th General Election (GE14) were rushed and flawed.
Azhar urged for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the conduct of the Attorney General at the time.
He stressed that the RCI was necessary to protect the AGC’s reputation as an independent institution free from political manipulation.
"If proven true, the Attorney General involved should also be held accountable," he added.
