It has come to Aliran’s attention that lawyer Charles Hector and eight of his clients are facing legal action for possible contempt of court.
Hector is acting as the lawyer for eight defendants who are part of communities that have been protesting against logging in the forests in the vicinity of where they live and work.
The plaintiffs are logging contractors who are appointees of the logging licence holder, Pengurus Besar Yayasan Pahang, a Pahang state statutory body. [Though the licence has been awarded to this body, approval to start logging has not yet been given.]
As part of the defence’s trial preparations, Hector had sent a letter on behalf of his clients, seeking clarification from a person, who is also a civil servant, over certain disputed facts contained in a letter that the latter had previously issued.
The plaintiffs are now alleging that Hector’s letter is in breach of an interim injunction/court order they had obtained in November 2020. This has resulted in a hearing for ‘leave of court’ to initiate contempt proceedings against Hector and the eight defendants scheduled for 25 March 2021 at the Kuantan High Court.
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This initiation of contempt proceedings against Hector and the eight defendants is extremely worrying and can be seen as a travesty of justice.
Silencing a lawyer through contempt proceedings is essentially preventing the lawyer from carrying out his professional duty to his clients.
Aliran calls for the upholding of the rights of litigants to a fair trial. A lawyer should not be deprived of his right to prepare for a trial, including obtaining all the salient facts to argue his case in court. The defendants should not be denied their right to a counsel of their choice.
Aliran executive committee16 March 2021
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
… the basic principles of justice? That both parties to a litigation must have a fair opportunity to prepare their cases with the best evidence they can adduce.
Charles Hector is a lawyer and I am sure he knows where he stands viz a viz the case he is defending.
Yet, as Aliran pointed out, “This initiation of contempt proceedings…is extremely worrying and can be seen as a travesty of justice.”
Aliran has voiced other concerns which I agree totally but lest we forget Yayasan Pahang has powerful supporters.
I can but wish Charles will meet one of those rare gems still to be found in our judiciary!!