Police open probe under OSA, Penal Code into alleged JAC minutes leak

Summary

• Police confirm receiving a report on the purported leak of JAC meeting minutes.

• IGP says probe will focus on how classified information could have leaked to social media.

• Khalid warns the public against distributing such a document.

Police have launched a probe under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) into the purported leak of a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting minutes.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said the investigation will focus on how the internal information could have been exposed and revealed on social media.

"Police confirm that we have received a report on the exposed JAC meeting minutes and their circulation on social media.

"This probe will be handled by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department's Classified Investigation Unit," he said in a statement.

According to Khalid, the case is being probed under Section 8 of the OSA, which stipulates offences regarding wrongful communication of official secrets.

Under the law, anyone who commits such an offence can be punished with a jail term of between one and seven years. It also criminalises the act of receiving the wrongfully communicated secret.

On top of this, police are also looking into the case under Section 203A of the Penal Code (disclosures of information obtained during performance of one's duties) and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (improper use of network facilities).

Don’t spread secret documents

Khalid warned the public against distributing secret documents, saying they could face severe consequences if they did.

"The focus of this investigation is on the leak and distribution of information internally and on social media. Police will summon all competent witnesses to facilitate this probe.

"We also advise the public not to publish any documents or information that are classified.

"Strong action will be taken against anyone who is involved in revealing and distributing such information."

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that an alleged excerpt of a JAC meeting minutes from May might have been leaked on social media.

The minutes supposedly contain allegations echoing those in a leaked police report lodged in June on behalf of a senior judge, who had been accused of judicial interference.

The police report was lodged after Malaysiakini contacted the judge on June 12 seeking comment on certain allegations involving the judge reportedly made during a JAC meeting.

Last week, nine PKR lawmakers led by Rafizi Ramli called for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) as well as the Parliament Special Select Committee on reforms to probe the allegations.

Tomorrow, the Malaysian Bar will march to hand over a memorandum to the prime minister, calling for an RCI, among other demands.

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