To many Malaysians, the recent exercise of prosecutorial discretion in the case of Riza Aziz is demonstrably wrong and is against the public interest, they argue.
We refer to the say-nothing-useful media statement by the Bar president, with the title “Legal issues on the granting of a discharge not amounting to acquittal of Riza Aziz”.
That statement, it pains us to say, is superficial and ill-conceived.
Most lawyers and many enlightened members of the public are fully aware that the public prosecutor has the discretion to proffer or not to proffer a charge and to withdraw a charge after it has been made in court.
This is not where the public thirst for insight lies.
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What Malaysians want to know, and look hopefully to the Bar for guidance, is this – based on the information available, has that discretion, firstly, been properly, judiciously and fairly exercised, in the case of Riza Aziz; and, secondly, has it been seen to have been so exercised?
Making a general statement that such a discretion must be “dictated by wisdom, relevant consideration and driven by facts and public interest” is not saying much at all.
It provides no insight into whether or not the exercise of discretion in this instance has met the required standard.
That statement curiously avoids these burning questions; uncharacteristic of a Bar admired for its fierce and fearless independence.
The Malaysian Bar should not make media statements when it has nothing useful to contribute or when it is unwilling to take a clear and principled stand.
If the Bar president, in representing the Bar, is of the view that the discretion has been correctly exercised in this instance, he should say so clearly and give cogent reasons.
If the Bar president is of the view that the discretion has not been correctly exercised, he should similarly state his stand unequivocally, supported with valid reasons.
If the Bar president feels that the available information is not yet adequate to enable him to form a reasoned opinion, then he should either have restrained himself from speaking or else explained what additional information may be required before the Bar could come to a reasoned assessment.
That statement has done none of the above.
That statement is hollow, when it fails to address the most pressing questions bothering the Malaysian public; such as whether it is right and in the public interest to withdraw serious charges just because partial reparation is promised or agreed upon post-felony; and whether all accused in a similar position will be treated likewise and, if not, how this exercise of discretion will bring disrepute to justice, equality and fairness.
The public also wants to know whether it is usual or abnormal, for a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) to be requested and granted “subject to terms and conditions” yet to be fulfilled by the accused.
Is that correct in law? Should the public prosecutor just take the word of such an accused, on his honour?
Quite apart from the issue of the impropriety of such a course of action, why couldn’t the request for DNAA be made only after all terms and conditions have been fulfilled by the accused? What is the rush?
While the Bar president is correct in saying that the public prosecutor has the discretion to withdraw a charge (which discretion must only be exercised justly and in the public interest), he has failed to address the issue of the role of the court to scrutinise such exercise of discretion.
That statement thus raises more troubling questions than it answers.
To many Malaysians, the recent exercise of prosecutorial discretion in the case of Riza Aziz is demonstrably wrong and is against the public interest.
Most Malaysians understand that a serious crime remains punishable, even if the offender makes full reparation, let alone partial reparation.
Criminal jurisprudence allows reparation to acquire some relevance, if at all, only in relation to sentencing.
Most Malaysians also appreciate that, if an accused is allowed to escape full punishment under the law by merely promising or making partial reparation, equal treatment must be given to all accused in a similar position.
That statement by the Bar president, which sweeps under the carpet many unanswered questions, is inconsistent with the resilient societal-leadership that the Malaysian Bar has selflessly provided for decades in the past – no matter how difficult circumstances had been from time to time or how unpopular its views were to those in authority.
This is a cherished tradition and role of the Bar and one of immense utility, which the Malaysian public has come to expect and rely upon when things are ill-done in our country.
We call upon all members of the Bar to lend their voice of strength in this matter of public importance and to assure the Malaysian public that the Malaysian Bar has not lost its way.
Kuthubul Zaman Bukhari, Yeo Yang Poh, Ambiga Sreenevasan, Ragunath Kesavan and Lim Chee Wee are former Malaysian Bar presidents while J Armadas and Ng Kong Peng are lawyers
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Lawyering and the courts are the ultimate n strongest pillars of JUSTICE in a DEMOCRACY.Although the people have got other things on their minds today, many quietly are immensely worried about the national trajectory this RIZA NAIJib DNAA development has wrought.This, especially, with the 2018 GE, the RAKYAT generally, want a fair piece of the MSN cake for all, irrespective of backgrounds. The politicians and civil servants are rightly PUBLIC SERVANTS-LEAders.Things amiss here??. Were all the ‘actors’ involved compromised?? LOgic does not allow for this discharge.PM and educators NEED to realise that this matter NEEDS to be put RIGHT because the youth can inherit ‘GOOD MORALS,TRUTH, JUSTICE, a real Malaysianness’.
Could it be possible that
‘Government’s deal to grant a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz on money laundering charges related to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal’
be a case to recover what amount can be recovered in the short term and to avoid lengthy legal cases which appear take very long and then their outcome also uncertain?
THUS IS IT NOT A CASE WHERE IT MAY HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BEST TO CUT COSTS AND SAVE RESOURCES AND HAVE SOME RECOVERIES?
Some similar cases have been ongoing for so long due to the many postponements and legal reasons that ordinary rakyat may be wondering if the cases will ever be concluded and full recoveries made.
Be safe and Bless all
I agree with the sentiments expressed in the joint statement by the five former Malaysian Bar presidents which edifies the situation.
As I wrote alluding to my being past 70, the headline I used that “it’s not worth the candle” reflects my mood as to whether lawyering is worth the candle!
We now have a senior lawyer equating Riza’s DNAA case to Guan Eng’s acquittal case. My view is that the equation reflects the loss of perspective and defies the doctrine of proportionality I wrote about.
As if it has become a national hobby, an economist is now saying that political appointments to the GLCs is not illegal when he meant it is not unlawful. But then we know economics is amoral. So economist should observe the “silence is golden” rule.
I agree with the above joint statement from the five former presidents of the Malaysian Bar who have proven themselves worthy of the trust reposed by all thinking Malaysians.
For a while, although left unsaid, when I referred to my being past 70 years old, I was thinking of quitting the Bar entirely. Candidly, that headline of the “call being not worth the candle” reflected the state of my mind.
When something is basically wrong, I find the silence of my fellow lawyers entirely disconcerting, especially when they are supposedly learned enough to discharge their role as the opinion makers and leaders in a democracy in the grand tradition of John Stuart Mill.