Institute boss under internal probe allowed to cross-examine officers

KUALA LUMPUR: Baitulmal Professional Institute (IPB) chief executive officer Dr Syed Omar Syed Agil was granted permission by the High Court here yesterday to cross-examine three IPB senior officers over a legal suit he filed against IPB for carrying out internal investigation against him.

The internal investigation was conducted against Syed Omar after he lodged a police report on alleged financial mismanagement in IPB.

Judge Datuk John Louis O’Hara allowed Syed Omar’s application to challenge the statements by the officers concerned in their supporting affidavit for the defence, on grounds that it had merit.

The three officers had filed the affidavits to quash an interim injunction obtained by Syed Omar last Jan 4.

The court was also of the opinion that Syed Omar had no intention of delaying hearing of the case.

The court set March 22 for cross-examination of the three IPB officers concerned.

On Jan 4, the court granted an interim injunction to Syed Omar until the disposal of the inter-parte injunction and his originating summons against IPB, whose major share holder is the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), which has 70 per cent stake in it.

On Dec 16, 2015, Syed Omar filed the originating summons against IPB Sdn Bhd, which runs the institute, and sought among others, an injunction to stop its officers, staff and agents from continuing the internal investigation against him, which was made following a disciplinary notice dated Oct 6 last year.

He also wanted the institute to revoke the notice immediately. In his affidavit, Syed Omar claimed that on Aug 14 last year, he lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Royal Malaysian Police on Sept 1, over financial mismanagement by officers and staff of IPB.

He claimed that on Sept 2, the police issued a notice confirming that his Disclosure of Improper Conduct was being investigated under the Penal Code.

He contended that he had produced the relevant documents and accounts to the police, and on Sept 29, the institute received a written order from MACC for a search of the institute’s premises and a seizure of documents.

Syed Omar claimed that on Oct 6, 2015, he received a notice from the institute to inform that an internal investigation had been instituted against him since Oct 6 last year.