Lawyer Karpal Singh has withdrawn his appeal against a High Court’s refusal to allow him to initiate a judicial review to compel former chief justice Zaki Azmi to respond to his complaint over his (Zaki’s) alleged misconduct when he was a practising lawyer.

A three-man Court of Appeal panel presided by Sulong Matjeraie, Sulaiman Daud and Datuk Clement Allan Skinner struck out the appeal.

Karpal Singh informed the court that the matter had become academic because Zaki had retired.

“That being the position, I have to withdraw the appeal,” he said.

On March 1 this year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court denied leave to Karpal to file a judicial review.

The Bukit Gelugor member of parliament and DAP chairperson had sought a mandamus order to compel Zaki to explain his alleged misconduct with regard to his admission on bribing court officials during his days as a lawyer in 1987.

He had also sought to have Zaki brought to the Judges Code of Ethics Tribunal.

Azizah Nawawi represented Zaki.

- Bernama