PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court has rescheduled to Jan 14 next year to hear an appeal by UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam (pix) who failed to set aside the leave obtained by former Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas to initiate committal proceedings against him.
Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, when contacted, said the appeal hearing was initially fixed for today.
On May 13 this year, Lokman lost his appeal in the Court of Appeal to set aside the leave obtained by Thomas, who was the then AG, to commence committal proceedings against him (Lokman) for allegedly intimidating a witness in Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.
The appellate court three-member panel led by Justice Datuk Yaacob Md Sam ruled that the High Court did not make any error when allowing the AG’s leave application to commence the contempt proceedings.
Earlier on Jan 14 this year, High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, in dismissing Lokman’s application to set aside the leave obtained by the AG, said the court was satisfied that the fact and the nature of the alleged contempt were sufficiently brought to his (Lokman’s) attention.
Justice Sequerah granted leave to Thomas on Oct 22 last year to initiate the committal proceedings against Lokman for contempt of court acts perpetrated on two occasions on Sept 25 last year.
Thomas, who was appointed by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on June 4, 2018, for a two-year term to replace Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, resigned from the post on Feb 29 this year.
Thomas initiated the committal proceeding against Lokman, seeking an order for Lokman to be committed to prison or be fined for his action.
According to Thomas, Lokman had, on Sept 25 last year, uttered words in a video interview, constituting an express or implied threat against Amhari Efendi, for having given evidence in Najib’s trial at the High Court.
Thomas said that on the same day, Lokman lodged a police report against Amhari Efendi, who was the eighth prosecution witness, in respect of the evidence given by him at the former prime minister’s trial.
Thomas said the object or purpose of the respondent’s (Lokman’s) act, was to harass and intimidate Amhari Efendi, other witnesses and any potential witnesses who may come forward to give evidence against Najib in the 1MDB trial. — Bernama
