Former AG, now Federal judge, urged to clear name
Federal Court judge Mohtar Abdullah should withdraw from hearing any appeal until the disposal of police reports against him for selective prosecution and abuses of power as Attorney-General, an opposition leader said today.
DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said in a press statement that Mohtar must act correctly by withdrawing from hearing any appeal until full investigations into allegations against him have been completed and disposed of.
"Under Article 145 (3) of the Constitution, the AG is vested with sole and untrammelled discretionary powers of prosecution 'to institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for an offence', but this does not give the AG the immunity to break the law by being guilty of selective prosecution or abuses of power," Lim said.
He added that Attorney-General Ainum Mohamed Saaid should fully review the high-profile cases prosecuted by Mohtar such as those involving former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, DAP deputy chairman Karpal Singh, DAP vice-president Lim Guan Eng and Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez.
On Saturday, Barisan Alternatif youth leaders lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station in the capital city calling for an investigation into Mohtar's seven-year tenure as Attorney-General.
Holiday pictures
The BA youth leaders said that Mohtar should be investigated for his holiday to Italy in 1994 with prominent business tycoon Vincent Tan and corporate lawyer VK Lingam.
They also called for investigations on Mohtar's role in not pressing charges against a number of prominent personalities including allegations of judicial misconduct on the part of former chief justice Eusoff Chin for holidaying with Lingam in New Zealand.
Federal Court judge Mohtar Abdullah should withdraw from hearing any appeal until the disposal of police reports against him for selective prosecution and abuses of power as Attorney-General, an opposition leader said today.
DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said in a press statement that Mohtar must act correctly by withdrawing from hearing any appeal until full investigations into allegations against him have been completed and disposed of.
"Under Article 145 (3) of the Constitution, the AG is vested with sole and untrammelled discretionary powers of prosecution 'to institute, conduct or discontinue any proceedings for an offence', but this does not give the AG the immunity to break the law by being guilty of selective prosecution or abuses of power," Lim said.
He added that Attorney-General Ainum Mohamed Saaid should fully review the high-profile cases prosecuted by Mohtar such as those involving former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, DAP deputy chairman Karpal Singh, DAP vice-president Lim Guan Eng and Tenaganita director Irene Fernandez.
On Saturday, Barisan Alternatif youth leaders lodged a police report at the Dang Wangi police station in the capital city calling for an investigation into Mohtar's seven-year tenure as Attorney-General.
Holiday pictures
The BA youth leaders said that Mohtar should be investigated for his holiday to Italy in 1994 with prominent business tycoon Vincent Tan and corporate lawyer VK Lingam.
They also called for investigations on Mohtar's role in not pressing charges against a number of prominent personalities including allegations of judicial misconduct on the part of former chief justice Eusoff Chin for holidaying with Lingam in New Zealand.
Photographs of the two [#1] controversial holidays [/#] were splashed all over the Internet.
The police report further urged that Mohtar should be investigated for not taking action against International Trade and Industries Minister Rafidah Aziz after the Anti-Corruption Agency recommended charging her with graft following a probe.
In a show of support, about 3,000 reformasi supporters marched along Jalan Raja Laut to Dataran Merdeka after the police report was lodged.
Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua and three others were arrested by police for taking part in the follow-up demonstration along Jalan Raja Laut. One of them was reportedly hurt in the commotion during the arrest.
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