Group urges senior judge to recuse himself amid police probe
PETALING JAYA : A group concerned over allegations of judicial interference has urged a Federal Court judge to recuse himself from all cases amid an ongoing police probe.
This comes after a subordinate of the judge in question filed a police report against a reporter from a news portal who had asked the judge to comment on the allegations of interference.
The officer said the report was filed to urge the authorities to investigate how such information was leaked.
The group, which calls itself Sekretariat Pertahan Sistem Kehakiman, said the senior judge should immediately stop hearing all cases.
'The mere existence of such allegations is sufficient to cast doubt on the oath of loyalty taken by any judge,' it said in a statement.
'The police must be given full and unfettered space to carry out investigations without any undue interference from any party, especially as the reputation and integrity of the judiciary are now the subject of public discussion,' it added.
The group claimed the police report alleged that the apex court judge had pressured the chief justice to rule in favour of a political party and to transfer a High Court judge, among other demands.
Yesterday, FMT reported that a senior judge had been summoned by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to answer claims of interference in the appointment of judges going back to last year.
A source told FMT that there was a heated exchange in the JAC's meeting, claiming there was a split between those in the commission: one camp siding with the judge and the other wanting to throw the book.
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.
Last year, Anwar also appointed former attorney-general Idrus Harun, former Federal Court judge Zainun Ali, former Sarawak attorney-general Mahmood Abdul Rashid, and academic Hartini Saripan to the commission.
FMT has reached out to the chief justice's office for comment.
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