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The Kevin Morais Murder: Opening a can of worms?

Malaysian Chronicle video: The night Altantuya was murdered – Americk Sidhu

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Bar Council president Steven Thiru urges the IGP to respect the principle of solicitor-client privilege which he said is critical to the administration of justice. He says that the only exception to the privilege is spelled out in Section 126 of the Evidence Act 1950, namely if the communication involved illegal purposes or that the advocate was involved in any crime or fraud.

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1 December 2015

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Malaysiakini

Pen drive 101: Ex-minister schools AG and IG

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has issued pointers to attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali and inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar on tackling the pen drive saga.

As for the AG, Zaid said Apandi should speak to his predecessor, Abdul Gani Patail, and then dispatch an investigation team to the United States to examine the pen drive.

“Has he seen the pen drive that Charles (Suresh Morais) allegedly received from his brother (Kevin Anthony Morais)?

“The AG should not be so quick to rubbish serious allegations. He should be interested in the substance of the complaints, and not whether Charles is bankrupt or not.

“There is no need to foam at the mouth when someone makes an allegation about our leaders. There is no need to behave like a personal aide to the prime minister.

“Be cool and professional at all times,” Zaid added in a blog post today.

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Bar slams IGP for attacking Americk over Charles’ SD

The Malaysian Bar has criticised inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar for attacking lawyer Americk Sidhu who was engaged by Charles Suresh Morais for his explosive statutory declaration (SD).

“The disparaging remarks reportedly made by the IGP against Americk are unjustified and unbecoming of the office of the IGP.

“Instead of launching into this tirade of abuse, the IGP and the police should focus on investigating the veracity of the SD,” said Bar Council president Steven Thiru.

Thiru said he was shocked by the IGP’s comments against Americk, noting that the police have now developed a trend of targeting lawyers such as the detention of Matthias Chang who had acted for former Batu Kawan Umno vice-president Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

Khairuddin had lodged police reports against 1MDB in several countries for alleged misappropriation, prompting the authorities to charge him on grounds of “sabotaging the country’s financial institutions” and Chang was also not spared.

“It is also perplexing that the IGP appears to be indifferent to the rights and obligations of an advocate and solicitor representing a client under the Legal Profession Act 1976 and the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1978.

“The independence of an advocate and solicitor to act for a client without fear or favour is fundamental to the administration of justice. It must not be curtailed by acts of police intimidation, harassment or victimisation.

“The IGP’s reported statements are a serious violation of this independence, and an affront to the administration of justice,” said Thiru.

He urged the IGP to respect the principle of solicitor-client privilege which he said is critical to the administration of justice.

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1 December 2015

Birthday boy treats cops to karipap during two-hour grilling

Lawyer Americk Sidhu, who turned 59 today, served karipap (local curry puffs) and pisang goreng (banana fritters) to police officers while he was grilled for some two hours over his client’s explosive statutory declaration.

“It takes a long time to type,” he told reporters later when asked on the lengthy question time.

According to him, the officers from Bukit Aman, who arrived at his office in Ampang at 3pm, posed “very general questions” on the SD and he cooperated with them.

“Nothing to complain,” he said.

The police zeroed in on Americk after his client Charles Suresh Morais returned to the United States where he has been based since 1984 after unveiling his SD to the media last week.

Legal groups had criticised the police for what was described as “harassment” against Americk for doing his duty as a lawyer.

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29 November 2015

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Eric Paulsen Retweeted Malaysian Insider

This is improper. He is bound & protected by lawyer-client privilege.

Eric Paulsen added,

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