THE daughter of the late DAP stalwart Karpal Singh has filed legal action against Chief Justice Richard Malanjum relating to allegations of judicial interference within the judiciary. 

The case, filed by Sangeet Kaur Deo, concerns allegations raised by lawyer Haniff Khatri, who claimed in a Facebook post on August 22 last year that the outcome of Karpal’s sedition appeal two years ago was altered due to judicial interference by a senior judge.

Karpal died in a road accident on April 17, 2014.

He had been charged with sedition for saying the removal of Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as menteri besar by the late Perak sultan, Sultan Azlan Shah, and the appointment of Zambry Abdul Kadir in his place, could be questioned in court.

On February 21, 2014, the High Court found Karpal guilty. On May 30, 2016, his conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Sangeet, also a lawyer, filed the originating summons in relation to allegations by former Court of Appeal judge Hamid Sultan Abu Baker on August 16 last year that he was reprimanded by a top judge for delivering a dissenting judgment in a unilateral Muslim conversion case in 2016. 

Hamid, who spoke at the 2018 International Malaysia Law Conference, had said he was barred from hearing cases related to the Federal Constitution and public interest matters.

Sangeet said she had filed the originating summons “in light of his (Malanjum’s) failure thus far to investigate and complete investigations relating to two very serious allegations of judicial interference within the Malaysian judiciary”.

“It is hoped that the Malaysian Bar will also take a stand in this matter as such serious allegations attack the integrity and credibility of the Malaysian judiciary,” she added. – January 14, 2019.