THE Kuala Lumpur High Court set June 15 to decide if Lokman Noor Adam committed contempt of court by allegedly intimidating a witness in Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah fixed the date after hearing the committal proceedings today.

The former Umno Supreme Council member is accused of committing the contempt by intimidating a prosecution witness in the 1MDB trial through his police report and remarks made in a video interview on September 25, 2019.

The prosecution, led by Gopal Sri Ram, said that Lokman’s actions were a clear interference in the administration of justice.

The prosecution also submitted that his actions would intimidate other witnesses and prospective witnesses in the ongoing 1MDB trial.

Sri Ram is also the lead prosecutor in the 1MDB case and judge Collin is also the trial judge on it.

“He (Lokman) relies on his right of freedom of speech. His right of freedom of speech does not include threatening my witnesses and attacking and asking the courts to dismiss the charges against the accused (Najib) because there is no case,” Sri Ram told the court today.

Lokman’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, meanwhile defended his client’s action for having made the police report.

“It is also a public policy… if I have got to be going to my lawyers first, and spend some money, and then run to the police station and lodge a report.

“The whole idea of encouraging people to make a police report on things gone wrong, the whole thing is defeated, that’s why the absolute concept is extended.

“Otherwise, the judiciary will kill this public interest requirement and encouragement of law. Otherwise, they will go into the streets and protest and become violent.”

If Lokman is found to have been in contempt, he could face either a fine or jail term. – May 19, 2021.