JAC questioned senior judge on alleged judicial interference, says source
PETALING JAYA : A senior judge was summoned by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to answer several allegations of interference in the appointment of judicial officers dating back to last year, says a source.
'Following the questioning, there was a heated discussion at last month's monthly meeting of the JAC, which is now split into two factions, with one sympathetic to the judge,' the source told FMT, declining to provide further details.
Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat chairs the nine-member JAC. Other members include Court of Appeal president Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Chief Judge of Malaya Hasnah Hashim, and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Abdul Rahman Sebli.
These four are members of the JAC by virtue of holding the top administrative positions in the judiciary.
In February, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim appointed senior Federal Court judge Zabariah Yusof to the JAC under Section 5(1)(e) of the JAC Act 2009.
Last year, Anwar also appointed former attorney-general Idrus Harun, former Federal Court judge Zainun Ali, former Sarawak attorney-general Mahmood Abdul Rashid, and academician Hartini Saripan to the JAC.
Meanwhile, a subordinate of the judge concerned lodged a police report two weeks ago against a reporter from a news portal who had sent a text message seeking the judge's response to the allegations of interference.
In the report filed at the Putrajaya police station and sighted by FMT, the officer said the journalist's questions pertained to matters discussed at the May 16 JAC meeting.
'This report is being made to urge the authorities to investigate how such information was leaked,' the officer stated.
At the opening of the legal year in January, Tengku Maimun warned that any attempt to interfere with the JAC's independent functions would constitute a criminal offence.
She said Section 34 of the JAC Act stated that any person found guilty of influencing or attempting to influence the commission could face a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
Speaking on judicial appointments, Tengku Maimun reiterated that only the JAC and the prime minister were authorised to recommend candidates for positions in the superior courts.
She added that bypassing the provisions of the JAC Act could render such appointments unconstitutional or unlawful.
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