1MDB critics’ lawyer to cite AG for contempt
(Malay Mail Online) – The lawyer representing former Umno leader Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang told the High Court here today that he plans to cite the Attorney-General (AG) for contempt of court.
Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla accused AG Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali (pic) of committing contempt of court for commenting on their ongoing case, in which 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) critic Khairuddin and Chang were charged with sabotaging the country’s banking and financial sector, in a press conference last Tuesday.
Speaking before Justice Datuk Mohd Azman Husin here, Mohamed Haniff argued that Apandi should not have spoken to the media as it would show “real and substantial danger” to the case.
In a rare press conference on October 13, Apandi justified the use of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (SOSMA) 2012 to detain Khairuddin and Chang, saying that the two, who were charged under Section 124L of the Penal Code read together with Section 34, were charged under laws covering threats to sectors critical to Malaysia.
“Section 124L of the Penal Code provides that ‘whoever attempts to commit sabotage or does any act preparatory thereto shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 15 years.’
“In this regard, Section 130a of the Penal Code defines the term ‘sabotage’ to mean an act or omission intending to cause harm, among others, to the maintenance of ‘essential services’ while the term ‘essential services’ is defined to include banking and financial services,” Apandi had said.
