TAKIYUDDIN Hassan ought to publicly explain Putrajaya’s position on Riza Aziz’s plea deal instead of resorting to name-calling, which does not befit his position as law minister, said Ramkarpal Singh.

“Takiyuddin should behave like a minister accountable to the public and accept valid criticism in stride, and not resort to calling those who make such criticism ‘hypocrites’,” said the Bukit Gelugor MP in a statement today.

The PAS secretary-general yesterday called former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad a hypocrite for questioning the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court’s move to grant a discharge not amounting to an acquittal to Riza in his money-laundering case.

Ramkarpal, who also chairs DAP’s legal bureau, said Takiyuddin should realise that many are questioning the court order, especially since the Attorney-General’s Chambers seems to believe there is evidence against Riza, who is former prime minister Najib Razak’s stepson.

Lead prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram has said the trial against Riza will continue if he fails to honour his end of the bargain, which is meant to see a return of assets worth some US$108 million (RM467 million) to the government.

“Although Section 92 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 provides that the offence against Riza may be compounded, this can only happen with the consent of the public prosecutor,” said Ramkarpal.

He stressed that former attorney-general Tommy Thomas has denied agreeing to drop charges against Riza as part of a deal.

“(This) begs the question: what has changed since then to justify the decision of the public prosecutor now in exercising his discretion under Section 92?

“In such circumstances, it is quite natural for not only the former prime minister, but anyone, to ask why the charges against Riza will not be proceeded with if he fulfils his side of the said agreement.”

He added that the decision to compound the charges against Riza must have been that of the public prosecutor after considering the facts and circumstances of the case, and the representations made by Riza’s solicitors.

“As such, it is obvious that only the public prosecutor is in a position to explain his decision, which will be subject to public scrutiny. In the absence of such an explanation from the public prosecutor himself, how can anyone be called a hypocrite for questioning his decision?”

The office of the public prosecutor is also occupied by the attorney-general, who is currently Idrus Harun.

Charges were dropped against Riza in return for the recovery of overseas assets linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

Riza, who faced five counts of laundering up to US$248 million in 1MDB-linked funds via Red Granite Pictures, a Hollywood production house that he co-owned, could have been jailed up to five years and fined a maximum of RM5 million. – May 17, 2020.