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Monday, July 22, 2013

Shafee confident of being able to nail Anwar: "I only need 2 to 3 hours"

Shafee confident of being able to nail Anwar: "I only need 2 to 3 hours"
UPDATED WITH VIDEOS PUTRAJAYA - Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah is confident of being able to overturn the High Court's acquittal of Anwar Ibrahim in the Sodomy II case, insisting that he was a neutral party and his appointment as lead prosecutor had nothing to do with Prime Minister Najib Razak's Umno party.
"Why is it controversial? The appointment of private lawyers holding on a fiat from the Attorney General is not new, this is not the first time as in the case of Tan Hock Chuan who acted in another controversial case - the Teoh Beng Hock (inquest). This is an appeal and the law provides for such an appointment," Shafee told reporters at the court lobby on Monday.
"What political motives? I am not even a politician or a member of any political party. I would be insulted if I am appointed for political purposes, I would like to think I am appointed because I am capable."
Shafee was being grilled by reporters after Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim questioned his appointment and slammed the appeal process as reeking of political motives. Anwar also said Shafee's appointment was further confirmation that Umno was out to 'get' him and bury his political career.
"Our position is that the conduct of this case from 1998-99 till now has been very unprofessional. I can understand the Attorney-General's Chambers may be short of talent but there is no excuse to appoint someone so heavily tainted to be involved in allegations against me. He has been casting aspersions using the court and outside the court for whatever dubious reasons," Anwar had told reporters.
Why can't AG Gani Patail lead the appeal, why the need for 'costly' Shafee?
Meanwhile, there is mounting criticism over his appointment as many in the legal fraternity question why the AG should appoint and spend taxpayers' money unnecessarily.
"There is no doubt it is within the AG's jurisdiction to appoint help from the private sector. But this is clearly an insult to the AG's chambers - don't tell me they are so short of talent," a lawyer told Malaysia Chronicle when asked for his comment on Shafee's appointment.
"Firstly, why can't the AG himself handle the case if he deems that there is no one else capable of leading prosecution. Gani Patail is the Public Prosecutor, so why doesn't he lead the appeaI. Secondly, if Gani takes on the appeal, there is no additional expenditure. But bringing in Shafee would incur additional charges and Shafee is not known to come cheap."
No ulterior motive or conflict of interest - Shafee
Nonetheless, Shafee refused to acknowledge any ulterior political motives or conflict of interest, insisting that he was just doing his national duty as this was a case of "public interest".
Even so, his denials are unlikely to carry much weight given his obvious and frequent association with top Umno leaders and handling cases for their Umno party.
"Conflict of interest in the law is conflict of interest within the case. It is not conflict of interest in general. I am only in conflict if assuming I have previously acted in a case for Anwar that has a relationship to this case," said Shafee.
When asked who had approached him to handle the case, he sidestepped the question, saying that only the AG could appoint him and not even the prime minister himself had the power to do so.
"How can it be from Umno? Under the constitution, the Attorney General is the only person who can direct, not even the prime minister. The appointment was made and communicated to me on the 11th (July) but letter dated on 2nd. But the documents for the the contract was signed only last Friday (19th) but that was purely officious," he said.
I would do this even if I don't get any fees
When asked if the contract involved terms of emoluments and payment for his fee, speculated by many in the legal profession to be in the millions, he admitted the contract involved remuneration details but indicated that he would have taken on the job even if he was not paid any fee but only expenses.
The Umno lawyer also expressed confidence in winning the appeal, insisting that the government had a strong case.
"I will try my best.. I have read the entire 25 volumes and it is an entire nightmare reading the 25 volumes. I can tell (you) that I find the case for the appellate is a very strong one ... because the only reason for the acquittal was that apparently of the issue of the exhibits being possibly tampered with. I find no evidence of that and i would like to put the record straight.
Strategy
When asked what would be the thrust of his arguments in court and if he expects a long drawn-out case as in the previous Sodomy trials, Shafee seemed very clear about his strategy.
"It's a very narrow issue. As you can see the High Court judgement agreed on every point with the prosecution except on this issue (of exhibits having possibly been tampered with). So the appeal is going to be very narrow and focused that brings back to the position of how can there be a conflict when we are going to argue clinically just on that issue," said Shafee.
"As far I am concerned, I can finish my appeal within 2 or 3 hrs."
Malaysia Chronicle

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