PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal today ruled that the coroner who heard the inquest into fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim's death has the jurisdiction to issue leave to commence committal proceedings against former Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas.
In a unanimous decision, a three-member bench chaired by Justice Datuk Suraya Othman said a coroner has the jurisdiction and power to hear and punish for any kind of contempt, albeit in the face of a court or out of court.
She said, the court also found that there was no merit in the argument by counsel Datuk S. Ambiga, who represented Thomas, that a Magistrate's power to punish was limited to contempt in the face of the court alone, due to the words used in the provision.
"In Paragraph 26 of the Third Schedule of the Subordinate Courts Act 1948, the words "power to take cognisance of any contempt of court" are used to outline the sentencing for matters of contempt at the Sessions Court and the Magistrate's Court.
"Ambiga had submitted to the court that the words meant the Magistrate's Court only has the power to deal with contempt of court in the face of the court and not outside of the court. The cases cited by Ambiga were not applicable in Malaysia under Section 3 (1) of the Civil Law Act 1956.
"Therefore, we find no merit in this appeal. Hence, we dismiss the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) appeal on whether the Coroner's Court has the jurisdiction to hear and decide on committal proceedings," said the judge who sat with Justices Datuk Abu Bakar Jais and Datuk Hashim Hamzah.
The decision was delivered during a virtual proceeding today. Present were Thomas' counsel, Ambiga and Zainur Zakaria, while lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla acted for Muhammad Adib's father, Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid.
After the ruling was delivered, Zainur said they had been instructed to appeal to the Federal Court and then applied for the appellate court to stay the other appeal proceedings by Mohd Kassim, pending disposal of the appeal at the Federal Court.
Mohamed Haniff Khatri informed the panel that they reserve the right to raise an objection before the Federal Court, on whether Thomas could even appeal to the apex court.
He said this was because Thomas' appeal actually was against the Coroner's Court decision, which sits at a level below the High Court.
Justice Suraya allowed the application to stay Mohd Kassim's appeal, adding that this was because an appeal to the Federal Court involved the important point of the lower court's jurisdiction to hear contempt proceedings.
The other two appeals that were brought by Mohd Kassim included the appeal against a High Court's decision in setting aside the coroner's decision to give him leave to initiate committal proceedings against Thomas.
In his application, Mohd Kassim claimed that Thomas had insulted the court through an affidavit filed by the AGC on April 3, 2019, regarding the cause of his son's death.
Muhammad Adib, 24, who was a member of the emergency medical rescue services (EMRS) at the Subang Jaya Fire and Rescue station, was seriously injured in a riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, USJ 25, on Nov 27, 2018.
He died on Dec 17 2018 after 21 days at the National Heart Institute (IJN).
On Sept 27, 2019, the Coroner's Court ruled that Muhammad Adib's death was a result of a criminal act by more than two people.
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Tue Feb 08 2022
After the ruling was delivered, Zainur said they had been instructed to appeal to the Federal Court. - Astro AWANI
AWANI Ringkas: Kasino di Forest City
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Hamas sudah terima maklum balas Israel mengenai cadangan gencatan senjata
Gesaan dari seluruh dunia untuk satu gencatan senjata semakin meningkat dengan serangan ke atas Gaza kini memasuki bulan ketujuh.
World Economic Forum berbeza dari kelaziman
Lazimnya World Economic Forum (WEF) akan berlangsung setiap musim sejuk di Davos, Switzerland, lokasi lahirnya forum berprestij dunia ini sejak lebih lebih dekad lalu.
Dalam tempoh kira-kira tiga bulan, WEF keluar dari kelazimannya dengan menganjurkan mesyuarat khas dua hari, 28 hingga 29 April 2024 di Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
Ia memberi isyarat, kepentingan kestabilan rantau Asia Barat atau timur tengah ini, bukan perakara main-main.
#AWANI745
Dalam tempoh kira-kira tiga bulan, WEF keluar dari kelazimannya dengan menganjurkan mesyuarat khas dua hari, 28 hingga 29 April 2024 di Riyadh, Arab Saudi.
Ia memberi isyarat, kepentingan kestabilan rantau Asia Barat atau timur tengah ini, bukan perakara main-main.
#AWANI745
Pemain Astro Kem Badminton 2024 berpeluang berlatih di bawah jurulatih BAM
Wan Wah menjelaskan pemain-pemain yang dipilih akan menjalani latihan intensif itu di Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: Pengundi perlu pilih kestabilan - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata beliau percaya pengundi di kawasan tersebut, boleh membuat keputusan terbaik untuk menentukan calon paling layak untuk mewakili mereka.
Liga Parlimen Al-Quds: Malaysia gesa satu resolusi penyelesaian isu Palestin dapat dicapai
Malaysia antara lain mendesak Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) meluluskan resolusi menghantar tentera pengaman ke Palestin.
Palestin perlukan 14 tahun untuk dibangunkan semula
Jumlah besar runtuhan akibat serangan dilakukan tentera Israel di Semenanjung Gaza mengambil tempoh sekurang-kurangnya 14 tahun untuk dibersihkan.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
Delegasi seluruh dunia pulang selepas misi ditangguh
Delegasi seluruh dunia dan Malaysia dijangka bergerak pulang ke negara masing-masing dalam waktu terdekat.
Ia selepas Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) mengumumkan penangguhan terbaharu misi Break the Siege Freedom Flotilla to Gaza pada Sabtu.
Rakan setugas Syaff Shukri dan jurukamera Ab Uzza Ab Latiff ada perinciannya.
#AWANI745
Ia selepas Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) mengumumkan penangguhan terbaharu misi Break the Siege Freedom Flotilla to Gaza pada Sabtu.
Rakan setugas Syaff Shukri dan jurukamera Ab Uzza Ab Latiff ada perinciannya.
#AWANI745
PRK N06 KKB: Kerajaan Perpaduan akan dibebani dengan isu semasa - Muhyiddin
Pilihan Raya Kecil Kuala Kubu Baharu kali ini akan menyaksikan Kerajaan Perpaduan ‘dibebani’ dengan isu-isu semasa yang dilihat membebankan rakyat, tegas bekas Perdana Menteri yang juga Pengerusi Perikatan Nasional, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
Tangkapan anak MB Perlis, tidak jejas sokongan
Tangkapan ke atas anak Menteri Besar Perlis, Mohd Shukri Ramli dan lima lagi individu oleh Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) bagi membantu siasatan berhubung tuntutan palsu berjumlah RM600,000 tidak menjejaskan perjalanan Pilihan Raya Kecil Kuala Kubu Bharu yang ditandingi Perikatan Nasional.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745