Press Statement by Karpal Singh in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 12^th April 2010:

Cite Nazri for contempt!

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, in the electronic-media, including Malaysiakini, yesterday said in relation to evidence of Thai pathologist, Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand at the Teoh Beng Hock inquest,

“She is a liar! She lied in the inquest and she is lying now.”

Publicly attributing a lie to a witness who has given evidence in an on-going inquest amounts to a serious contempt of court. The matter is further compounded by the fact that the charge against Dr Pornthip does not come from a personality of mean rank. Nazri is a lawyer by training and a Minister of considerable seniority serving in the Prime Minister’s department.

The Magistrate conducting the inquest has sufficient powers under item 26 to the Third Schedule of the Subordinate Courts Act, 1948 to take cognizance of the contempt committed by Nazri. Any public prejudgment of issues in pending litigation constitutes contempt of court. Whether Dr Pornthip is a truthful witness or not is an issue for the Magistrate to decide.

I call upon the Magistrate to issue a notice to Nazri to show cause on 20^th April, 2010 when the inquest resumes why he should not be committed to prison for contempt of court. The Magistrate should act without fear or favour. The dignity of his court demands that he cites Nazri for contempt of court forthwith.

In the event the Magistrate does not so do, steps will be taken to cite Nazri for contempt of court by way of an application which will be made by Teoh Beng Hock’s brother, Teoh Meng Kee.

* Karpal Singh, DAP National Chairman & MP for Bukit Gelugor