Albert files civil suit against Azam, MACC over orange lockup attire

Businessperson Albert Tei has filed an originating summons today against the authorities after being forced to wear orange lockup attire despite not being convicted yet.

Tei named the MACC, its chief commissioner, Azam Baki, and the government as the defendants in the civil suit.

According to Tei’s lawyer, N Surendran, the legal action sought a court declaration demanding that the directive requiring individuals who were merely under investigation to wear such attire is unlawful, unconstitutional, and contradictory to the principles of upholding justice.

"Malaysian law does not permit a person who has not been convicted to be forced into lockup attire, photographed, and paraded in public as if they are already guilty," Surendran told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex this morning after the case management for the lawsuit.

The lawsuit named the government as a respondent on the grounds that it is responsible for the policies and enforcement practices alleged to be oppressive toward individuals who have not yet been convicted of a crime.

Surendran added that the civil suit was also seeking damages against the defendants, leaving the exact amount of compensation to the court’s discretion.

Surendran explained that the issue of damages was merely secondary to their primary concern, which was to “protect individual dignity” and “the core principle of innocent until proven guilty”.

The court has set March 13 for another mention regarding the service of documents by the prosecution.

Tei was arrested on Nov 28 last year and remanded for five days before being charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Dec 4, and the following day at the Shah Alam Sessions Court.

The businessperson was charged with bribing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s former senior political secretary, Shamsul Iskandar Akin.

Shamsul has also been charged with receiving RM176,830 in bribes from Tei.

Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have claimed trial.

Double standards

At today’s press conference, Tei recalled how he had been forced to wear the MACC lockup outfit when brought to court for his remand application, in addition to being handcuffed and taken to several locations in public view.

He alleged that such actions were intended to humiliate him and exert mental pressure on him as a whistleblower.

"They are trying to break my spirit in this matter. However, I want to stress to the prime minister and Azam that they have underestimated my resolve, determination, and commitment to this struggle.

"I will never give up. This is an insult and affront to me," he stressed.

Tei further questioned why prominent political figures and high-ranking individuals who were previously arrested had not been subjected to similar treatment, describing the matter as "double standards" in law enforcement.

"I want to ask why people like Najib Abdul Razak, Rosmah Mansor, Muhyiddin Yassin, and Ismail Sabri Yaakob, as well as other high-profile individuals, did not wear the orange lockup shirt when they were arrested.

"Why? What is the difference? Is it because they are high-profile individuals, ‘big’ people? While we are just ordinary citizens?

"I challenge the MACC to disclose how many individuals were forced to wear lockup attire but were ultimately never charged. What is their compensation?" he asked.

Tei also said he did not rule out the possibility of taking further legal action against MACC in the future.

"I want to emphasise that this is my first lawsuit against the MACC, and it will not be the last. I believe there will be many more to come," he said.

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