THE attorney-general (AG) has applied for leave from the Kuala Lumpur High Court to initiate committal proceedings against former Umno Supreme Council member Isham Jalil for contempt of court.

In the ex-parte application filed on December 28, the AG requested the court to imprison Isham or impose a fine on him for the offence.

The offence was allegedly committed during an interview titled “Townhall for Justice: Keadilan Sebenarnya Untuk Siapa”, during which Isham reportedly commented on the trial and appeal of former prime minister Najib Razak in the SRC International and 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) cases.

The comments were published on The Malaya Post’s Facebook page on September 30.

The AG claimed that in the interview, Isham allegedly challenged the recusal process of judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who presided over the 1MDB trial.

“The respondent, among others, made explicit or implicit comments that allegedly meant the judge acted with bias in deciding the application.

“The respondent also disputed the appeal process at the Federal Court of the SRC International case between Datuk Seri Najib and the public prosecutor.

“The respondent gave explicit or implicit comments that implied the appeal was judged unfairly by the Federal Court panel led by the chief justice,” the AG said.

The AG said Isham’s comments posed a real risk of undermining the public’s confidence in the judiciary and amounted to interference with the administration of justice.

“The respondent’s actions humiliated the judiciary and thus it is an interference in the administration of justice, as well as a serious insult,” the AG said.

Isham in a Facebook post he would look into the AG’s ex-parte injunction filed against him for alleged contempt of court. – Bernama, January 6, 2024.