Mas Ermieyati calls for probe against senior judge over 'judicial interference'

Summary

• Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin believes a senior judge recently implicated in a series of allegations should receive a fair and proper investigation.

• She stresses that no one should be presumed guilty before going through the proper legal process.

• The former deputy law minister also calls on the government to respect the Judicial Appointments Commission’s role in proposing judges’ appointments.

A former deputy law minister today urged an independent and thorough investigation against a senior judge, who has been implicated in a series of allegations, including purported judicial interference.

Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said any allegation with a basis against any judge should be investigated fairly and thoroughly.

"As an MP and a former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law), I want to stress that the principles of the rule of law and independence of the judiciary must be upheld and defended against any interference that can taint the process of justice.

"Should there be any well-founded allegation made against a judge, it should be investigated according to the due legal process in a thorough, independent and fair manner.

"No individual shall be presumed guilty without going through the proper legal process," she said in a statement.

Adding further, the Perikatan Nasional leader called upon all parties to give the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) the room to carry out its role in choosing and proposing the appointment of judges.

Ensuring justice

Mas Ermieyati said the government and all stakeholders must also respect the doctrine of separation of powers and JAC's role to propose the next chief justice.

"The rakyat deserves an independent, clean and transparent judicial system.

"Only by having such a system can we ensure justice will be upheld without fear or favour," she said.

On Tuesday, Malaysiakini reported that a police report lodged on behalf of a senior judge, following a query by the news portal, had been leaked and was circulating among legal professionals.

The police report was made after Malaysiakini contacted the judge on June 12, seeking comment on certain allegations against the judge, including purported judicial interference, made during a JAC meeting.

The surfacing of the allegations rang alarm bells, with the Bar Council saying it will be seeking to get the minutes of the JAC meeting to ascertain the truth.

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