Former Bar Council president Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor is among 23 individuals appointed as judicial commissioners effective today.

They took their oath of office before Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Azizah Nawawi and Court of Appeal president Abu Bakar Jais at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya today.

A judicial commissioner is a temporary judicial officer appointed to perform a judge’s functions, with full judicial powers in some jurisdictions but limited authority in others.

Apart from Fareed (above), 11 other lawyers were sworn in, including J Kuldeep Kumar, who was former police officer Azilah Hadri’s defence lawyer in the Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder case.

The others are Adam@Edward Abdullah, Isa Aziz Ibrahim, Shahriza Zalina Abdul Shukor, Helmi Hamzah, Rajes Raghavji, Aimi Zaini Azhar, Samry Masri, Moh Kok Wai, Shamsul Bahrin Abdul Manaf, and RS Avinder Singh Gill.

Three from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) were also appointed - Legal Department head Donald Joseph Franklin, who was part of the prosecution team in former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s SRC International criminal case, deputy head of prosecution division II Syed Faisal Syed Amir, as well as trial and appeals division head Asmah Musa.

Other than the lawyers and AGC officers, former Selangor and Negeri Sembilan state court directors Khamsiah@Anita Harun and Darmafikri Abu Adam, as well as Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology adjunct professor Seow Hock Peng, also took their pledge.

The other appointments were Kalyana Kumar Sockalingam, DR Shoba Rajah, Manira Nor, Noradura Hamzah and MM Edwin Paramjothy.

On Aug 6, Wan Ahmad Farid said in his policy speech that the judiciary was working with the government on increasing the number of courtrooms and additional judicial commissioner appointments to reduce the backlog of cases.

This intake of 23 new judicial commissioners is reportedly the largest in recent years.

Malaysiakini wants to hear from you

Apex court bins AG's appeal, High Court to hear Najib's house arrest bid

Apex court bins AG's appeal, High Court to hear Najib's house arrest bid

Agong presents instrument of appointment as CJ to Wan Ahmad Farid

Agong presents instrument of appointment as CJ to Wan Ahmad Farid

LETTER | Some remain hostile despite top judicial appointments

LETTER | Some remain hostile despite top judicial appointments

Bar says 'Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence' a success

Bar says 'Walk to Safeguard Judicial Independence' a success