We’re studying legal options, lawyers for Hasanah warn

PETALING JAYA: Legal action may be taken against those who made adverse statements against former director-general of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO) Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid and seven other officers after their arrest by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), warns a law firm representing them.

In a statement, Azam Aziz Shaharudinali & Co said a lot of adverse media reports and comments in social media had been made regarding Hasanah and her colleagues as a result of press statements issued by senior MACC officers.

“In law, these public statements made in the course of criminal investigations were completely unnecessary and unwarranted, reasonably calculated to put our clients in the position of public scandal, contempt and odium.

“They were seen by us as a desperate tactic to sway public opinion to condemn and ridicule our clients prior to any possible criminal proceedings.

“Hasanah who is presently under remand could not effectively respond to these statements and as solicitors, we have been barred from seeing her.

“We are under instructions to study legal options open to our client(s). We have not received instructions to proceed yet but we wish to put the relevant parties on notice, that all legal options against them are on the table,” the statement warned.

Hasanah, seven former MEIO officers and a businessman have been detained by the MACC in connection with the investigation into the alleged misappropriation of US$12mil (RM49.3mil) worth of government funds.