LFL condemns MACC's intimidation, arrest of 2 lawyers in property dispute

Rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) condemned the MACC for detaining and allegedly harassing two lawyers acting for a client in a property dispute.

Its director Zaid Malek referred to the detention of Lai Chee Hoe at the MACC Putrajaya lockup from June 4 to 6, and the anti-graft agency’s probe of Irwin Lo.

Zaid (above) said the MACC’s actions infringed on a legal professional’s right to act for a client and disrupted a member of the public’s right to engage a counsel of their choice.

“Lawyers should be allowed to do their job without fear or favour. Why is the MACC intimidating lawyers performing their professional duty?

“The MACC has no power to call up lawyers acting for their clients to give statements and demand documents on the conduct of the case. This is something the MACC should not do.

“Lawyers should be free to advise their clients, so that the public can be confident when they engage lawyers, to hire counsel without fear or intimidation by MACC,” Zaid told a media conference at the LFL office in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, today.

It’s by the book - Azam

During a question-and-answer session with the media, Lai claimed that MACC officers came to his office in the afternoon on June 4 and asked for his letter of appointment for representing the client in a civil court matter involving the property dispute.

Lai claimed he was asked to go to the MACC headquarters to give his statement but was detained later that night. He was released on June 6.

He claimed that the MACC gave him three conditions, one was for him to withdraw from representing the client.

When contacted, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki denied the anti-graft agency interfered with the public’s right to legal representation, contending that the investigation process has been by the book.

Azam said Lai’s detention and Loh’s questioning were related to an investigation into alleged embezzlement and abuse of power involving a property’s joint management body.

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