Lawyer challenges validity of his remand

A lawyer allegedly harassed by MACC is seeking a court order to invalidate his remand sought by the anti-graft watchdog.

Lai Chee Hoe filed the notice of appeal to invalidate the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court order for him to be remanded from June 5 to 7.

His counsel Zaid Malek confirmed that the appeal was filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on June 14 and set for case management on Aug 28.

“We seek to expunge the magistrate’s remand order for (allegedly) being wrong in law.

“The appeal is to determine whether the detention was lawful or not,” Zaid told Malaysiakini.

Under the law, a court declaration that a detention is unlawful would open other avenues for a detainee to seek legal redress.

Lai came to the spotlight recently over his allegation of being harassed and detained by MACC in a property dispute.

During a press conference on June 11, Zaid, who is the Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) director, condemned Lai’s detention.

Zaid claimed 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.

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 linked to the property dispute.

Three conditions

Lai claimed he was asked to go to the MACC headquarters to give his statement but was detained later that night, and released a few days later.

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

When previously 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 was related to an investigation into alleged embezzlement and abuse of power involving a property’s joint management body.

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