PETALING JAYA: Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has urged the public to stop attacking the lawyer for two Special Branch police officers in the assault case involving Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) chief Shuhaily Zain.
“The work of lawyer Kamal Hisham should be respected. Everyone, including those accused of serious crimes, has the right to legal representation,” he said in a statement.
He questioned why Kamal was being attacked on social media, with his personal background and past cases being brought up as if to portray him as lacking competence and integrity.
Hassan, who is also a lawyer, said he had represented Kamal in a high-profile case involving Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar about 11 years ago.
“Kamal eventually pleaded guilty to one charge under the Companies Act and was fined RM30,000 after spending nearly two years in remand."
Hassan said he had advised Kamal to plead guilty after considering his prolonged detention, family circumstances and the nature of the case.
“Kamal had agreed to plead guilty to only one charge, the least serious offence, which carried a fine but no jail term."
Hassan said the communication between a lawyer and his client was protected by law and could not be disclosed publicly without the client's consent.
He also called on the Malaysian Bar to defend lawyers who were unfairly attacked on social media.
Shuhaily pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two counts of voluntarily causing hurt to two police officers at KLIA Terminal 1 on Sept 28.
He is charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code and faces up to a year in prison, a fine of up to RM2,000, or both, for each charge.
The magistrates' court granted him bail of RM3,000 and fixed Nov 25 for case management.