MACC rejects LFL claim over notice to lawyer in Albert Tei probe

The Star

The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) has dismissed allegations by Lawyers for Liberty that it acted unlawfully in issuing a notice to lawyer Mahajoth Singh.  The commission said the notice was issued under Section 30(1) of the MACC Act 2009.  Read more at https://tinyurl.com/ycyfj78a  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

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00:00The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, or MACC, has dismissed allegations by Lawyers

00:07for Liberty that it acted unlawfully in issuing a notice to lawyer Mahajoth Singh, who represents

00:13businessman Albert Tay.

00:15The Commission said the notice was issued under Section 30, subsection 1 of the MACC

00:21Act 2009, which empowers investigators to require any person to attend and produce documents

00:28or recordings to assist an investigation.

00:31MACC stressed that the provision applies equally to all individuals, and that there is no legal

00:38exemption for members of the legal profession.

00:41It added that, as counsel for the suspect, Mahajoth is in possession of exhibits relevant

00:46to the investigation and is legally obligated to produce them when required under Section

00:5230, subsection 3.

00:54The Commission warned that refusal to comply could amount to obstructing a public officer,

01:00an offence under Malaysian law.

01:02Addressing concerns about solicitor-client privilege, MACC said the protection covers confidential

01:09legal advice, but does not excuse a lawyer from appearing before investigators or producing

01:15materials unrelated to legal consultation.

01:18MACC also described claims that the notice amounted to intimidation as baseless.

01:23Emphasizing that the action is part of routine statutory procedures and does not interfere with a

01:30lawyer's ability to represent a client.

01:33Earlier, LFL said Mahajoth was summoned for questioning by MACC, describing the action

01:39as abnormal and potentially intrusive on confidential solicitor-client communications.

01:53The

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