©The Malaysian Insider (Used by permission)
by V. ANBALAGAN, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Umno lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah has filed a defamation suit against the Malaysian Bar and three others for attempting to discuss his conduct at the Bar's annual general meeting (AGM) two weeks ago, his counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin said.
"Yes, my client has filed a defamation suit as the course of action against the defendants," he told The Malaysian Insider.
Shafee filed the suit as well as an injunction to restrain the Malaysian Bar, former Bar president Christopher Leong, lawyers Tommy Thomas and Tan Sri V.C. George on March 12.
Shafee had obtained the ex–parte injunction the following day from judge Datuk Asmabi Mohamad to stop a motion filed by Thomas and seconded by George to be discussed at the AGM on March 14.
The court will today hear applications to set aside Shafee's injunction that stopped discussion of the senior lawyer's conduct in participating in roadshows about Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's second sodomy trial.
Leong and the council are represented by Lambert Rasa–Ratnam, while Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan will appear for Thomas and Porres Royen for George.
Thomas and George, two senior members of the Malaysian Bar, had urged the council to take action against Shafee over his conduct following Anwar's conviction by the Federal Court.
They said that from the time the Federal Court convicted Anwar on February 10, Shafee had behaved in a repugnant and obnoxious manner which brought the legal profession into disrepute.
In their motion submitted for the AGM, the two senior lawyers also urged the incoming council for the 2015–2016 term to lodge a report against Shafee with the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board.
They said steps had to be taken to further prevent Shafee from bringing the legal profession into disrepute.
Shafee, who was appointed by Attorney–General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to lead the prosecution team in the Sodomy II appeal, was accused of wilfully, and with impunity:
– holding press conferences condemning Anwar who cannot respond as a convicted prisoner serving time;
– drawing attention to his prowess, allegedly as a top rate prosecutor;
– demeaning Anwar and his legal team, and the defence that were relied upon them in court proceedings;
– giving interviews with the traditional and online media on his performance as prosecutor; and,
– organising and participating in nationwide roadshows with a political party, with the purpose of insulting a convicted prisoner and for bringing attention to his role in the conviction.
Shafee is said to have violated the Legal Profession (Publicity) Rules 2001 which prohibits lawyers from publicising themselves or their practice in any manner.
They also noted that while Shafee is backed by forces of the state, he is not above the law.
Shafee has previously been found guilty of misconduct and fined RM5,000 for advertising himself. His appeal to the High Court was rejected and is now pending in the Court of Appeal. – March 31, 2015.