Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz today dismissed concerns raised by Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) over a retired senior police officer's open letter containing explosive claims about the 'black eye' incident involving opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.In a ministerial statement in the House, Nazri said despite lamentations by former Criminal Investigations Department chief Mat Zain Ismail otherwise, the special panel set up to look into the government investigations into the incident was not duty-bound to clear his name per se.
The independent panel was set up to evaluate the findings of the then Anti-Corruption Agency (subsequently the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, MACC) into the investigations into the 'black-eye' incident and the involvement of current attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail and former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan.
“Mat Zain and Dr Abdul Rahman Yusof mentioned in Anwar's report were not the subjects of the investigation. Only their statements were recorded," said Nazri.
"The MACC advisory board, in a reply to Mat Zain's letter dated Jul 23 2009, have stressed that there is no need for the special panel or MACC to clear his name," he added.
The independent panel was set up to evaluate the findings of the then Anti-Corruption Agency (subsequently the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, MACC) into the investigations into the 'black-eye' incident and the involvement of current attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail and former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan.
“Mat Zain and Dr Abdul Rahman Yusof mentioned in Anwar's report were not the subjects of the investigation. Only their statements were recorded," said Nazri.
"The MACC advisory board, in a reply to Mat Zain's letter dated Jul 23 2009, have stressed that there is no need for the special panel or MACC to clear his name," he added.
Mat Zain had alleged that Gani had a role in the black-eye incident involving Anwar about 12 years ago when he headed the prosecution unit of the Attorney General's Chambers.
The minister also refuted Mat Zain's claims that the solicitor-general does not have the authority to appoint a deputy public prosecutor to form the special panel for the same purpose, as this goes against subsection 376(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“If we look closely at section 376 of the CPC, only one legal position is clear, that it is the solicitor-general has the power to appoint the deputy public prosecutor," argues Nazri.
The minister also refuted Mat Zain's claims that the solicitor-general does not have the authority to appoint a deputy public prosecutor to form the special panel for the same purpose, as this goes against subsection 376(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“If we look closely at section 376 of the CPC, only one legal position is clear, that it is the solicitor-general has the power to appoint the deputy public prosecutor," argues Nazri.
Nazri had earlier said the government will investigate Mat Zain's open letter following a cabinet decision for Nazri and Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim to meet Abdul Gani for clarification over the allegations before taking further action.
Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/150762
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