KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today allowed Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to initiate contempt of court proceedings against lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah over his statement on Datuk Seri Najib Razak's corruption case.
High Court Judge Datuk Mohd Firuz Jaffril made the decision in chambers, stating that there was a prima facie case for contempt.
Senior federal counsel Shamsul Bolhassan, who was met after the proceedings, said the ex-parte application, which named Shafee as the sole defendant, was filed at the High Court Registry last month.
"We will serve him (Shafee) with the related documents within 14 days," he said.
Thomas, in his originating summons said Shafee had made a statement that was deemed contemptuous to the judge and would undermine the administration of justice and public confidence in the judicial system of the country.
He was alleged to have made the comment in response to questions from journalists that Najib’s defence team could win the trial "if the judge is straight, witnesses are not coached and evidence not fabricated".
The comment was made on Feb 7 after a court proceeding and aired om news portal KiniTV.com.
"These words will not only adversely affect the image and prestige of the courts and judges in Malaysia, but place the trial judge in an embarrassing situation.
"The words will create a state of uncertainty about the fair and just determination of the case," Thomas said.
Meanwhile, Shafee said he would challenge the proceedings and Thomas has recoiled himself and was being untruthful in court.
"He (Thomas) said he gives everybody freedom of speech, then why is he misbehaving like this now.
"I want to receive that paper and I want to challenge it because what he said is not true.
"Somebody asked me, if I can recollect correctly, what is the prospect of my case and I said this very carefully, ‘if you give me a straight judge, if you give me witnesses that are not coached and evidence that is not fabricated, I have a good chance of winning'.
"In fact, I said I have a good prospect of winning." Shafee said, adding that he was not afraid of the matter as he never disrespected any court.