PUTRAJAYA: The case related to Road Transport Department deputy director-general Datuk Yusoff Ayob, who sent his special aide to plead guilty on his behalf over a charge of driving in an emergency lane, has been remitted back to the magistrate's court.
"The case has been sent back to the court. How can you plead guilty by way of representation?” Chief Justice Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif told reporters at a Hari Raya gathering with his staff at the Palace of Justice here.
Meanwhile, Federal Court chief registrar Datuk Seri Latifah Mohd Tahar said the case would be mentioned in court on July 25.
On July 18, Yusoff was fined RM600 by the magistrate court here on a charge of driving a car bearing registration number BLY 68 in the emergency lane at Lingkaran Putrajaya in Putrajaya at 6.27pm on Oct 7 last year.
On that day, he did not turn up in court. Instead, he had sent a special officer to plead guilty on his behalf.
Earlier, Md Raus and wife, Puan Sri Salwany Mohamed Zamri held a gathering with more than 700 staff of the judiciary and among invited guests were Attorney-General Tan Sri Apandi Ali and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim.
About 23 orphans aged from five to 17 years from the Paya Jaras orphanage in Sungai Buloh were treated with duit raya and gifts. Guests were served with variety of traditional foods such as sate, murtabak, ketupat, laksa Johor and others.
In his message to his staff, Raus called on them to instil the principles of justice and integrity in their work culture.
He said staff and officers of the judiciary should always be honest, fair, trustworthy and transparent in carrying out their duties with integrity.
He said the staff and officers of the judiciary should always be honest, fair, trustworthy and transparent in carrying out their duties with integrity.
"Excellence is unlikely to be inherited and acquired without continuous effort and hard work," he said. - BERNAMA