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KUALA LUMPUR – The chief judge of the shariah courts should go on leave pending the outcome of sexual harassment and corruption allegations against him, in the interest of safeguarding the sanctity and reputation of the judiciary system, the Malaysian Shariah Officers’ Association (PPSM) said today.
In a statement issued by PPSM president Ibrahim Deris, he urged the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD) and the Public Service Department (PSD) to step in and place the implicated judge on leave to ensure proper and unbiased investigations.
“To avoid the matter to continue tarnishing the image of the shariah judicial system, it would be reasonable to for the PMD and the PSD to take appropriate action so that he is placed on temporary leave until investigations against him are complete, based on the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) 1993 regulations.
“This would also make it easier for authorities to conduct investigations so that the truth will prevail quickly,” Ibrahim said.
The PPSM president said he has received feedback from fellow members expressing how they have lost confidence in the leadership of the incumbent chief judge, especially after his personal morality has become a subject of debate, which can adversely affect the public’s perception of the shariah courts.
Ibrahim then called for calm from his fellow colleagues and members to allow authorities to quickly conduct the necessary probes to solve the issue, acknowledging the accusations levelled against the chief judge are “shocking” and go against the code of ethics practised by shariah judges.
The statement also alluded them to accusations against the senior judge as exposed by Umno’s Datuk Lokman Noor Adam over the past few days, with the accusations coming as a surprise to PPSM.
“PPSM is shocked with the latest revelation by Lokman Adam on his Facebook Page on January 13, 2022, when he narrated the details within the complainant’s police report,” he said, referring to Lokman’s comments made in a video last night.
Ibrahim was referring to Lokman’s assertion made during his video that the chief judge had offered charged individuals the choice of judges to preside over their cases to ensure victory in the proceedings.
“Such statements are very dangerous for someone who is the most senior leader of a judiciary system, which would be an abuse of power, following which, it can cause the impartiality of judgements in cases to be disputed.
“PPSM upholds the principle of being courageous for the truth, with those in the wrong receiving a deserving judgement,” Ibrahim wrote in a statement today.
Senior judge Datuk Mohd Naim Mokhtar yesterday served a letter of demand to Umno’s Lokman over supposedly defamatory remarks the latter made on Facebook, with Naim also demanding that Lokman retract his statements and delete them from social media.
The judge is also seeking an open and unreserved apology from the former Umno Supreme Council member that is to be made within 24 hours, an ultimatum that is set to expire this evening.
Just hours earlier, Lokman told The Vibes how he has yet to receive or to be served any legal documents accusing him of spreading slander and committing criminal defamation against the senior judge.
Lokman also revealed how protecting the sanctity of the Islamic judiciary system and shariah courts was what forcing him to expose the senior judge’s alleged sexual harassment cases.
The judge had also denied the allegations brought against him, saying they were all orchestrated by certain individuals to oust him from his position. – The Vibes, January 14, 2022
