KUALA LUMPUR: The ex-parte injunction filed by the Attorney-General (AG) against former Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil, among others, was due to the latter's words that could undermine the public's confidence towards the country's judiciary.
In a court document sighted by the New Straits Times (NST), AG has filed the injunction against Isham on Dec 28, last year, for alleged contempt of court over SRC International and 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) cases involving former jailed prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
In the document, Isham, identified as the respondent, had uttered words that constituted contempt of court during a discussion titled 'Townhall For Justice: Justice for Whom?' broadcasted on The Malaya Post Facebook page on Sept 30.
"The words uttered by the respondent in the town hall session dated Sept 30, 2023, contain significant risks that can undermine the public's confidence in the judiciary body and cause interference towards justice administration.
"Following the respondent's actions mentioned above, the respondent has been seen to scandalise the judiciary by questioning the decisions related to the proceedings in the respective courts.
"Therefore, the respondent's actions were an act of meddling in the justice administration and are a serious insult to the court," it said.
The applicant (AG) also mentioned that the respondent (Isham) had questioned the trial and appeal process involving Najib in the cases related to SRC International and 1MDB.
In the town hall session, it stated that Isham is also alleged to have challenged the recusal process involving Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who presided over the 1MDB trial at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
The AG said the respondent, among other things, provided comments explicitly and/or implicitly alleged to imply that the judge acted with bias in deciding the relevant application.
"The statements made by the respondent have also depicted that Najib has been unfairly judged by the Federal Court panel led by the Chief Justice."
At the same time, in the ex-parte proceedings conducted yesterday on the application, Sequerah granted the prosecution's request for it to be heard by another judge to be appointed later.
Meanwhile, in a statement earlier, Isham said he would look into the injunction filed against him for the alleged contempt of court.
Isham also claimed the injunction could be seen as the government's desperate attempt to maintain power as the current administration under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was unstable .