Chief justice Md Raus Sharif said Road Transport Department (RTD) deputy director-general Yusoff Ayob's traffic offence case has been remitted back to the Magistrate's Court.

The country's top judge questioned how could someone plead guilty through a representative.

“The case has been sent back to Magistrate's Court. How can you plead guilty by way of representation?” he asked at a Hari Raya function held at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today.

Federal Court registrar Latifah Mohd Tahar when met confirmed the case had been remitted to magistrate's court and has now been fixed for mention on July 25.

The Federal Court registrar's office in a statement said High Court judicial commissioner Ab Karim Ab Rahman had ordered for Yusoff to be recharged during a review today.

Karim had exercised his revisionary powers to set aside Yusoff's sentence and ordered that he enter his plea in person before a new magistrate.

The registrar's office said this was in accordance with Section 323 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Section 323 (1) states that a judge may call for and examine the record of any proceeding before any subordinate criminal court for the purpose of satisfying himself as the correctness, legality or propriety of any finding, sentence or order recorded or passed, and as to the regularity of any proceedings of that subordinate Court.

It was reported last July 18 that Yusoff, 58, was fined after his special officer appeared on his behalf and pleaded guilty to driving on the emergency lane in a car bearing the licence plate BLY 68 at Lingkaran Putrajaya, Putrajaya at about 6.27pm on Oct 7, last year.

Magistrate Nik Isfahanie Tasnim W Ab Rahman imposed a fine of RM600 or seven days’ imprisonment in default.

Yusoff's special officer paid the fine on his behalf.

Lawyer Syahredzan Johan had said that Yusoff may have gotten stiffer penalties if his senior post was brought to the court’s attention.

Raus in his speech earlier asked the judiciary to work with him to ensure that the judiciary is efficient and proficient.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story stated that Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif had directed for the case to be remitted to the magistrate's court. The order was made by High Court judicial commissioner Ab Karim Ab Rahman. The error is regretted.