Latest news with #Attorney-General'sChambers'
Daily Express
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Inquest key to justice in Zara Qairina case, says SLS
Published on: Friday, August 15, 2025 Published on: Fri, Aug 15, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Law Society (SLS) has welcomed the Attorney-General's Chambers' (AGC) decision to direct an inquest into the death of Zara Qairina Mahathir under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, saying it is a crucial step in ensuring a full examination of the circumstances. SLS president Datuk Mohamed Nazim Maduarin ( pic ), in a statement on Friday, said the inquest, as an independent judicial process, will determine the cause of death, examine possible criminal elements, and establish the facts needed for the AGC to decide on potential prosecutions. He reminded the public that any decision to prosecute will depend on the inquest's findings and the sufficiency of evidence, stressing the need to protect the integrity of the justice process. Nazim also underscored that bullying — whether physical, verbal, psychological, or online — has no place in schools, noting that recent Penal Code amendments (Sections 507B–G) criminalise a broad range of abusive behaviour and impose serious penalties when such acts cause harm, including in cases involving suicide. The SLS, through its Community Empowerment and Protection Subcommittee, will monitor the inquest closely and work with stakeholders to ensure the tragedy prompts meaningful reforms to safeguard children in educational settings. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Sabah Law Society welcomes AGC decision for Zara Qairina inquest
KOTA KINABALU: The Attorney-General's Chambers' (AGC) order for an inquest into the death of Form One student Zara Qairina Mahathir is a step towards truth and accountability, the Sabah Law Society (SLS) says. Its president Datuk Mohamed Nazim Maduarin in welcoming the AGC's decision, said the SLS will closely monitor the inquest and any subsequent legal proceedings in the public interest. 'We stand ready to engage with relevant stakeholders in Sabah to ensure that this tragedy leads to meaningful reforms in safeguarding children from harm,' he said in a statement on Friday (Aug 15). He noted the recent statement issued by the legal team representing Zara's family calling for the AGC to consider prosecution under the newly introduced anti-bullying provisions, where supported by evidence. 'An inquest is an independent judicial process that will examine the cause and circumstances of death, determine whether any criminal elements were involved, and ensure that all relevant facts are brought to light,' said Mohamed. The findings of the inquest will form the basis for the AGC to decide whether prosecutions should be initiated, he said. 'We remind the public that whether or not prosecutions follow will ultimately depend on these findings and the sufficiency of evidence in law,' he said, adding that this sequence was essential to preserve the integrity of the justice process. 'We would like to remind everyone that bullying, whether physical, verbal, psychological, or online, has no place in any environment, least of all in schools,' Mohamed said. He said the recent amendments to the Penal Code (Sections 507B–G) represent a critical step forward in combating bullying, criminalising a range of abusive behaviours and imposing serious penalties where they cause harm, including attempted or completed suicide. However, he said this legislative change must be matched by consistent enforcement, effective preventive measures, and a cultural and paradigm shift in how institutions address complaints. Mohamed said the SLS, through its Community Empowerment and Protection Subcommittee which leads their initiatives on bullying prevention and response, was firm on its commitment to work with all stakeholders in Sabah to create safer educational environments. 'Our commitment is clear - justice must be done, and it must be seen to be done because when our children are not safe. Nothing else matters,' he stated.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Zara Qairina's family lawyers to seek role in inquest
Published on: Wednesday, August 13, 2025 Published on: Wed, Aug 13, 2025 Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. KOTA KINABALU: Zara Qairina Mahathir's family legal team will apply to be included in the inquest proceedings into her death. They welcomed the Attorney-General's Chambers' decision to hold the inquest under Section 339(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to determine the cause of death and whether any criminal elements were involved. The lawyers — Shahlan Jufri, Rizwandean M Borhan and Mohd Luqman Syazwan Zabidi — said in a statement on Wednesday that the decision met all the requests made in their 5 August 2025 letter to the Chambers. They expressed hope that the inquest would proceed smoothly and conclude within a short timeframe. The legal team reaffirmed that justice for Zara remains their primary aim in all actions taken on her behalf. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
![[UPDATED] Federal Court to hear A-GC's appeal against Najib's house arrest case](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2F74530401_1745807394.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[UPDATED] Federal Court to hear A-GC's appeal against Najib's house arrest case](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] Federal Court to hear A-GC's appeal against Najib's house arrest case
PUTRAJAYA: The Federal Court will hear the Attorney-General's Chambers' (A-GC) appeal to stop Datuk Seri Najib Razak's bid to seek a judicial review of a purported addendum order on his house arrest. A three-member panel, led by Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim, unanimously granted the Attorney-General's Chambers' (AGC) leave (permission) application to present its arguments to overturn the Court of Appeal's ruling. She said the proposed questions raised by Attorney-General (A-G) Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar had passed the threshold requirements for leave to be granted under Section 96 of the Courts of Judicature Act (CJA) 1964. "The questions posed are novel and raise issues of public importance, which should be further ventilated before this court. "The questions are of public importance and can provide guidance to the courts on the correct approach to adopt when dealing with the admission of or the addition of evidence. "The questions also pertain to the role of the A-G in judicial review proceedings, particularly whether A-G is duty-bound under the law to confirm the existence of and supply copies of the impugned documents. "The applicant also seeks to argue whether the A-G has an obligation to defend or verify the evidence at the leave stage of judicial review proceedings, in light of the provisions of Order 53 of the Rules of Court 2012," she said today. Other members of the bench were Federal Court judges Datuk Zabariah Mohd Yusof and Datuk Hanipah Farikullah. The top court also disagreed with the respondent's contention that the applicant would not suffer any prejudice, as the applicant was not prevented from raising arguments on the admission of fresh and additional evidence during the substantive hearing at the High Court. "This is because by allowing the fresh and additional evidence at the Court of Appeal stage, the applicant would no longer be able to argue its admissibility before the High Court. "As the High Court would be bound by the Court of Appeal's decision to admit the evidence, the applicant would, in that context, certainly suffer prejudice," the court added. The court also fixed July 1 to hear the appeal. On Jan 6, a three-bench Court of Appeal panel led by Datuk Azizah Nawawi, in a split decision, also allowed the former prime minister to adduce additional affidavits to support his application. Other members of the bench were Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli and Datuk Seri Mohd Firuz Jaffril. Firuz, when reading the majority decision, said the evidence concerned was not available when they (the appellant) initially filed the leave to initiate a judicial review before the High Court last year. Meanwhile, Azizah, in her minority decision, said there was no appealable error made by the lower court in ruling that the evidence presented in the hearing was hearsay. The former Pekan member of parliament claims that a royal addendum allows him to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest. The 71-year-old Najib is seeking a mandamus order compelling the respondents to confirm and disclose the existence of the alleged additional document dated Jan 29, 2024. Najib is currently serving a six-year prison sentence after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. The High Court had sentenced him to 12 years in prison with a fine of RM210 million, and the verdict was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal and Federal Court. However, his prison sentence was halved to six years and his fine was reduced to RM50 million following his petition for a royal pardon. Najib later filed an application on an alleged addendum order signed by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. Previously, the High Court had dismissed his application.
