This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on July 12, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo has written to new Chief Justice (CJ) Datuk Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat to reinvestigate allegations of interference in Karpal Singh’s sedition conviction.

The lawyer had filed a suit against the Chief Justice’s Office after such claims regarding her late father’s case emerged, as it was a “stain in the Malaysian judiciary”.

“I have made a formal request to Tengku Maimun, the new CJ, to have this matter re-investigated. I do not think the outcome of the Federal Court appeal [that acquitted her father] addresses this complaint which is a stain on the Malaysian judiciary. That cannot be disregarded. I still feel it needs to be investigated on the allegations of interference in the Court of Appeal’s decision,” she said after case management of the suit yesterday.

“I have written to Justice Tengku Maimun and she has responded, and I hope to take the matter further, and I really hope the matter will be investigated,” she said.

Asked if the CJ had pledged to investigate, Sangeet pointed out that she was on the Court of Appeal panel which had ruled on Karpal’s appeal in 2016, hence she may be conflicted.

The majority of the bench upheld Karpal’s conviction, while Tengku Maimun had dissented.

“So we will have to possibly see who is the right party to re-investigate [the case], given the fact that she was on the panel. That [decision to investigate] is pending at the moment and that is my ultimate goal. To have these allegations investigated and not for it to just disappear,” the lawyer said.

It is understood that the decision to investigate the case would fall on the second-highest ranked official in the judiciary, namely Court of Appeal president Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop.

The case management before High Court Judge Justice Datuk Mohd Firuz Jaffril yesterday was for the court to ascertain the progress of the case.

The parties involved said they have filed submissions regarding the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ (AGC) application to expunge portions of the affidavit by Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Hamid Sultan Abu Backer supporting Sangeet’s application against the CJ.

“The court has fixed Aug 6 for further case management,” she said.

Senior Federal Counsel S Narkunavathy, who appeared for the AGC, confirmed the deliberations in Justice Firuz’s chambers.

Datuk Joy Appukuttan appeared for Justice Hamid.

Sangeet had filed the suit against the CJ for failing to defend the judiciary following revelations of such alleged interference in Karpal’s sedition case by Hamid during a Malaysian Bar event last year.

Joy said that the bigger picture was to have the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) immediately as this would resolve all issues.

“It is not just the current matter but everything,” said the lawyer.

Sangeet agreed that the RCI should be held and there is no reason for the delay. She said the Attorney-General had already submitted terms of reference for the RCI weeks ago, according to reports.

When asked further whether she would withdraw her suit, Sangeet explained that it would depend on progress of her case.

“This is in relation to the expungement [sought by the AGC], Justice Tengku Maimun’s response and others. Being the new CJ, I am very hopeful the right thing will be done and that this matter will not disappear or be swept under the carpet,” Sangeet said.