A lawyer, who previously represented the current Johor sultan and is being sought by the police and Interpol to assist in a criminal breach of trust case involving a sum of RM660,000, has sought an assurance from the authorities to guarantee his security and safe return home.

Kamal Hisham Jaafar, who has set up a consultancy firm in Dubai, told reporters via a conference call also involving his Kuala Lumpur office that he is perplexed by claims made by the police in the media on Sunday and Monday that he was not contactable.

"I have an office in Johor Bahru and also one in Kuala Lumpur. They could have contacted my firm to get details on how to contact me.

"My family members are also in Johor, and I carry the same handphone as in Malaysia. But the police have not called me this month.

"Hence I refute police assertions that I was not contactable," he said over the phone from Dubai.

NONE To illustrate the point that he is contactable, Kamal Hisham's partner Rozana Shamusuddin called him using her phone and held a conversation with him via a loudspeaker which was witnessed by reporters.

In fact, Kamal Hisham was last month pictured with International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed (right) in Dubai, receiving the ‘Emerging Legal Consultant in the UAE Award 2011'.

An advertisement on this which also carried his Dubai address and phone number was published in local newspapers.

His lawyer, Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, said police claims that Kamal Hisham could not have left the country or was not in Dubai, were untrue.

“My client had legally left the country via Singapore and we are all perplexed as to how the police could make such claims as this raises the question of whether his travel records may have been deleted,” Jahaberdeen asked.

To add further mystery to the matter, Rozana had tried to get a copy of the police report regarding the RM660,000 CBT investigations but was told it was a classified document.

Jahaberdeen said practising lawyers know that any police reports are deemed public documents which could be accessed by the accused person, the complainant or witnesses.

“Hence, we are perplexed over the nature of police claims and the manner they are seeking Interpol’s help to locate Kamal Hisham whereas he is available and contactable and willing to assist investigations,” he said.

“Not being given access to the police report is another puzzling matter, as how will Kamal Hisham answer the charge if not he does not know what he is accused of?” said Jahaberdeen.

Jahaberdeen to write to IGP and AG

Following the strange nature and circumstances of the case, Jahaberdeen will write to the inspector-general of police and also the attorney-general to seek guarantees for his safe return.

NONE "Kamal Hisham is willing to return to assist in investigations as he is contactable via his mobile and also the Dubai office.

"We are also prepared to make arrangements for the police to go there if necessary or if they want him to return home.

"However, if they want him to return home we are seeking assurances from the IGP and also the AG that he be allowed to gain safe passage back and that his security is ensured.

"We and his family members are worried over his safety following allegations that he left the country illegally as claimed by the police. However, he left legally months ago through Singapore,” he said.

Jahaberdeen, when asked from whom Kamal Hisham had sought security, declined to name the individual involved.

However, he reiterated the surprising nature of the case and police claims that there were no records of him leaving the country as worrying enough for his client’s safety, despite being a person of good standing.

“We do not want to come to conclusions in this matter as we cannot get access to the police report. We will make another attempt soon,” he said, adding that an earlier police report lodged against his client had been resolved.

Media reports yesterday had stated Kamal Hisham is being sought by the Johor police Commercial Crime Investigation Department ACP Rosman Omar to assist investigations into a CBT case involving RM660,000.

Malaysiakini had reported on Aug 4 that Kamal Hisham filed a RM10 million suit against a contractor, Mohamad Ali Ismail, following alleged poison pen letters written by Mohamad claiming that he had cheated the sultan.

Following his application, Kamal Hisham managed to transfer the case from being heard at the Johor Baru High Court to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

According to Jahaberdeen, the case has been fixed for case management on Feb 10 before Justice Zabariah Yusof.

A family member of Kamal Hisham, who declined to be identified, said all they want is to have him return safely home to seek justice and that the police should not be making such claims.

Rozana even gave Kamal Hisham’s Dubai number +971557972468 and handphone number 019-700 0006 to emphasise the point in the press conference that he was not running away.