Shafee fails in appeal against Thomas and three others

PUTRAJAYA: Senior lawyer Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah failed in his appeal over his suit against then Malaysian Bar member Tommy Thomas, the Malaysian Bar and two others in relation to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II appeal.

Court of Appeal judge, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Wong Dak Wah, who sat with Justices Umi Kalthum Abdul Majid and Ahmadi Asnawi, dismissed the appeal as they found there was no merit.

Justice Wong said the panel found that the High Court had dealt extensively on this.

“There was no error in the High Court’s findings. We now dismiss the appeal with no order as to cost,” he said.

The judgment was in relation to a suit by Muhammad Shafee, who claimed that on Feb 28, 2015, Thomas submitted a motion for discussion at the AGM on March 14, 2015, relating to his conduct as the DPP in Anwar’s sodomy appeal in the Federal Court.

This motion was seconded by V.C. George.

He said the Bar Council and former Bar president Christopher Leong published the motion on the website of the Malaysian Bar on March 9, 2015.

The motion, among others, touched on the behaviour of Muhammad Shafee, who staged roadshows relating to the sodomy case.

Muhammad Shafee claimed that the defendants had defamed him in order to destroy his reputation as well as his legal career.

The High Court subsequently found that Muhammad Shafee failed to prove his claim that the defendants – Thomas (who is now Attorney-General), George, the Bar and Leong – had conspired to defame him at the AGM.

Yesterday, Justice Wong said that the appellant (Muhammad Shafee) knew that the event he attended was a political event and had willingly took part in it.

Justice Wong said the appellant should not allow himself to be part of an agenda of a political party.

“The event was to attack PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s reputation.

“Is it right for him to attend it when he was only an ad hoc deputy public prosecutor? We say no.

“It was improper to condemn the accused person (Anwar) who was not there to defend himself,” he said.

Yesterday, when met after the court decision, Muhammad Shafee said he would file an appeal.

“I will apply for a minimum of seven-man bench to hear my appeal,” he added.