Syariah officers group divided over sexual harassment claim against top judge
The top leadership of an association for Syariah Judicial Department officers appeared to be at odds over the sexual harassment allegation against top Syariah judge Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.
This came to light when Malaysia Syariah Officers Association (PPSM) president Ibrahim Deris issued a statement earlier today saying that the group wanted Na'im (above) to be put on garden leave, but was then refuted by his deputy who claimed that it was not the association's stand...
The top leadership of an association for Syariah Judicial Department officers appeared to be at odds over the sexual harassment allegation against top Syariah judge Mohd Na'im Mokhtar.
This came to light when Malaysia Syariah Officers Association (PPSM) president Ibrahim Deris issued a statement earlier today saying that the group wanted Na'im (above) to be put on garden leave, but was then refuted by his deputy who claimed that it was not the association's stand.
In Ibrahim's statement, he said that many PPSM members were shocked to learn about allegations thrown against Na'im, who is also the judicial department's director-general.
Ibrahim claimed members have also expressed their loss of confidence in Na'im.
"PPSM understands that many of our members were shocked upon learning about this accusation because if it is true, the judge has committed something that is against the code of ethics for judges, which must be practised and upheld by all Syariah judges.
"We also received feedback from PPSM members that they have lost confidence in the leadership of the director-general as his moral status has become a debate among the public, which can lead to the Syariah judiciary system being looked down upon by the people," he added.
Ibrahim cited several statements made by former Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam on Facebook recently, where the politician alleged that Na'im was responsible for a sexual harassment incident involving a woman in August 2020.
"To prevent this issue from tarnishing the image of the Syariah judicial institution, it would be appropriate for the Prime Minister's Department or the Civil Service Department to take action so that he is placed on garden leave until investigation against him is completed.
"This would also facilitate authorities in conducting their investigation and so that the truth will prevail," he said.
'We were not consulted'
However, hours later, the press received another media release from PPSM, this time issued by its deputy president Muhamad Yusro Borhan Nordin who distanced the association from Ibrahim's earlier statement.
Yusro, who claimed that he represented other PPSM exco members, stated that they were not consulted by Ibrahim before the latter issued the first statement.
"I, Muhamad Yusro bin Borhan Nordin, the deputy president of PPSM for session 2019/2021 together with the exco of PPSM hereby deny that the press statement dated Jan 14 was issued collectively because the matter has never been discussed nor was it decided in any medium.
"We believe that the president and PPSM's name were used in the statement," he said.
Yusro also stated that the association on behalf of all Syariah officers in the country express their disappointment with the allegation against Na'im, which he said was sensationalised by a politician recently.
He added that PPSM calls for all to return to the rule of law and to give full trust to the authorities to investigate the allegation.
Sexual harassment probe
It was reported that police are investigating a senior judge who allegedly sexually harassed a married woman in 2020.
According to news reports, the woman lodged a report in December last year claiming she found the judge lying naked on her bed when the judge was visiting the woman's house, where she lived with her bedridden husband.
Following this, Na'im lodged a counter police report claiming that the woman had made a false accusation, and recently initiated legal action against Lokman for defamation.
The judge also claimed that there was a conspiracy by several individuals within the Syariah Judiciary Department to bring him down, and mulled taking legal action against them.
