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Issue #39/2020 18 September 2020

New This Week Case(s) of the Week PP v. DATO' SRI MOHD NAJIB HJ ABD RAZAK  Appeal Updates Appeal Updates Latest Cases Legal Network Series Articles LNS Article(s) Legislation Highlights Principal Acts Amending Acts PU(A) PU(B) Legislation Alert

PP v. DATO' SRI MOHD NAJIB HJ ABD RAZAK
HIGH COURT MALAYA, KUALA LUMPUR
MOHD NAZLAN GHAZALI J
[CRIMINAL TRIALS NO: WA-45-2-07-2018, WA-45-3-07-2018 & WA-45-5-08-2018]
21 AUGUST 2020
[2020] CLJ JT (12)

CRIMINAL LAW: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 – Section 23(1) – Public officer – Using office or position for gratification – Ingredients – Accused Prime Minister and Minister of Finance – Whether public officer – Government-linked company – Company owned and controlled by Minister of Finance Incorporated – Whether Minister of Finance Incorporated personified by accused as Finance Minister – Accused as Prime Minister and Advisor Emeritus of Company granted power by company's Memorandum and Articles of Association to appoint or dismiss members of Board of Directors, and control corporate and strategic decisions of company – Whether having overarching authority over company – Whether having 'interest' in company – Company applying for RM4 billion loans from Retirement Fund (Incorporated) – Loans approved following support by accused and guarantees provided by Government – Company transferring monies into accused's personal bank accounts – Whether constituting 'gratification' within meaning of s. 23(1) – Whether accused motivated by gratification in participating in Government decision to grant guarantees to company – Nexus between Government decision to grant guarantees and gratification – Whether needed to be proven – Whether accused suffering from conflict of interest situation vis-à-vis Government decision to grant guarantees – Presumption of existence of 'interest' – Whether applicable – Whether could be invoked against accused – Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, s. 23(1), (2)

CRIMINAL LAW: Penal Code – Section 409 – Criminal Breach of Trust – Ingredients – Accused Prime Minister and Minister of Finance – Government-linked company – Company owned and controlled by Minister of Finance Incorporated – Whether Minister of Finance Incorporated personified by accused as Finance Minister – Accused as Prime Minister and Advisor Emeritus of Company granted power by company's Memorandum and Articles of Association to appoint or dismiss members of Board of Directors, and control corporate and strategic decisions of company – Whether having overarching authority over company – Whether treated by law as director and shadow director of company – Whether entrusted with dominion over property of company – Whether an agent of company – Company applying for RM4 billion loans from Retirement Fund (Incorporated) – Loans approved following support by accused and guarantees provided by Government – Company transferring monies into accused's bank personal accounts – Whether transfers actuated and initiated by accused – Whether accused committed misappropriation – Whether monies converted by accused for own use and benefit – Whether criminal breach of trust proven against accused – Penal Code, ss. 405 & 409

CRIMINAL LAW: Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 – Section 4(1) – Money laundering – Ingredients – Accused Prime Minister and Minister of Finance – Government-linked company – Company owned and controlled by Minister of Finance Incorporated – Whether Minister of Finance Incorporated personified by accused as Finance Minister – Accused as Prime Minister and Advisor Emeritus of Company granted power by company's Memorandum and Articles of Association to appoint or dismiss members of Board of Directors, and control corporate and strategic decisions of company – Company applying for RM4 billion loans from Retirement Fund (Incorporated) – Loans approved following support by accused and guarantees provided by Government – Company transferring monies into accused's personal bank accounts – Whether transfers actuated and initiated by accused – Whether monies proceeds of unlawful activity – Predicate offences, commission of – Whether proven – Unlawful activity – Particular and specific unlawful activity giving rise to illegal proceeds – Whether to be specifically identified – Whether accused ought to have but failed to ascertain sources of funds – Whether guilty of willful blindness

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Sentence – Adequacy – Public officer – Prime Minister cum Minister of Finance – Guilty and convicted of offences of using position for gratification, criminal breach of trusts and money laundering – Appropriate and fair sentences

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1. Emanuel (W/N Pakistan) lwn. PP [2019] 1 LNS 1421 (CA) menolak sebahagian kes Mahkamah Tinggi PP lwn. Emanuel [2017] 1 LNS 477

2. Oscar Canary Sdn Bhd v. Tenaga Nasional Berhad [2019] 1 LNS 811 (CA) affirming the High Court case of Tenaga Nasional Berhad v. Oscar Canary Sdn Bhd [Suit No: 22 NCVC-607-12/2014]

Legal Network Series

[2019] 1 LNS 326	AIROD SDN BHD lwn. KESATUAN PEKERJA-PEKERJA AIROD (KPPA) & SATU LAGI Kapasiti dan masalah kewangan syarikat bukan merupakan faktor penentu untuk tidak mematuhi klausa berkenaan pelarasan gaji seperti yang dinyatakan di dalam perjanjian bersama. UNDANG-UNDANG PENTADBIRAN: Semakan kehakiman - Certiori - Pembatalan keputusan Mahkamah Perusahaan yang membenarkan tuntutan kesatuan pekerja berhubung pelarasan gaji pekerja - Ketidakpatuhan perjanjian bersama oleh syarikat - Syarikat gagal mematuhi klausa berkenaan pelarasan gaji pekerja dan faedah persaraan atas sebab masalah kewangan - Sama ada masalah kewangan yang dihadapi oleh syarikat merupakan faktor penentu untuk tidak mematuhi pelarasan gaji - Sama ada pelarasan gaji wajar dibenarkan mengikut terma perjanjian bersama Bagi pihak pemohon - Augustine; T/n Fitzgerald Augustin & Co Bagi pihak responden 1 - VK Raj; T/n P Kuppusamy & Co Bagi pihak responden 2 - Jabatan Peguam Negara
[2019] 1 LNS 397	CANIETE ROBELYN MASTELERO lwn. PP 1. Tertuduh dianggap mempunyai pengetahuan berkenaan jenis dadah di dalam beg yang dibawanya apabila beg yang dibawa oleh tertuduh tersebut adalah di bawah kawalan atau jagaan tertuduh seorang semata-mata. Cara dadah disimpan di dalam kotak susu yang ditutup rapi dan bersil yang dijumpai di dalam beg yang dibawa oleh tertuduh merupakan perbuatan nyata atau terang-terang pengedaran dadah. 2. Adalah mustahil bagi pegawai penyiasat untuk menjalankan siasatan ke atas watak-watak yang dicadangkan oleh tertuduh di dalam amaran percakapannya tanpa maklumat yang lebih terperinci terutama apabila watak yang dicadangkan tersebut adalah warga asing. UNDANG-UNDANG JENAYAH: Dadah berbahaya - Pengedaran - Pemilikan - Dadah disembunyikan di dalam kotak susu yang ditutup rapat dan bersil yang disimpan di dalam beg yang dibawa tertuduh - Beg dibuka menggunakan anak kunci yang diberi tertuduh - Sama ada beg berada di bawah kawalan dan jagaan tertuduh seorang semata-mata - Sama ada anggapan di bawah s. 37(d) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 terpakai - Sama ada tertuduh dianggap mempunyai pengetahuan berkenaan jenis dadah di dalam beg yang dibawanya - Sama ada cara dadah dibungkus di dalam kotak susu merupakan perbuatan nyata dan terang-terang pengedaran PROSEDUR JENAYAH: Pembelaan - Pembawa ikhlas - Dadah berbahaya - Dadah disembunyikan di dalam kotak susu yang ditutup rapat dan bersil yang disimpan di dalam beg yang dibawa tertuduh - Tertuduh mendakwa susu kotak diberikan oleh seseorang untuk dibawa ke Malaysia dan diberikan kepada penama lain - Sama ada tertuduh mempunyai pengetahuan dadah yang terkandung di dalam beg dan memilih untuk menutup mata - Sama ada anggapan statutori di bawah s. 37(d) Akta Dadah Berbahaya 1952 telah dipatahkan PROSEDUR JENAYAH: Pengemukaan informasi - Rakaman beramaran - Pengedaran dadah berbahaya - Tertuduh mendakwa kewujudan beberapa watak yang meminta tertuduh membawa barang-barang bersamanya ke Malaysia - Tertuduh tidak membekalkan cara untuk menghubungi atau mengesan watak yang dicadangkan - Watak yang dicadangkan merupakan warga asing - Sama ada tertuduh telah gagal membekalkan sebarang perincian berkenaan watak yang dicadangkan - Sama ada pegawai siasatan boleh menjalankan siasatan berkenaan kewujudan watak yang dicadangkan tanpa maklumat yang lebih terperinci Bagi pihak perayu - Alfred Egin; M/s Alfred Egin & Co Bagi pihak responden - Aslinda Ahad, Timbalan Pendakwa Raya; Jabatan Peguam Negara
[2019] 1 LNS 400	LOI TECK CHAI lwn. KINTA MEDICAL CENTRE SDN BHD 1. Saman penghutang penghakiman perlu diserahkan ke atas pegawai perbadanan yang semasa dan terkini sahaja dan sebarang penyampaian ke atas pegawai yang telah meletak jawatan adalah tidak sah. 2. Oleh kerana kesan proses saman penghutang penghakiman adalah serius, maka saman penghutang penghakiman perlu diserahkan secara kediri. Saman penghutang penghakiman boleh disampaikan secara ganti jika terdapat perintah mahkamah untuk berbuat demikian. PROSEDUR SIVIL: Pelaksanaan - Saman penghutang penghakiman - Penyampaian - Kesahihan - Penyampaian ke atas perbadanan - Saman penghutang penghakiman boleh diserahkan ke atas pegawai perbadanan yang telah meletak jawatan - Sama ada saman penghutang penghakiman hanya perlu diserahkan ke atas pegawai semasa dan terkini syarikat PROSEDUR SIVIL: Penyampaian - Saman penghutang penghakiman - Penyampaian kediri atau ganti - Sama ada saman penghutang penghakiman harus diserahkan secara kediri - Sama ada saman penghutang penghakiman boleh diserahkan secara penyampaian ganti - Kaedah-Kaedah Mahkamah 2012, A. 74 k. 11D(2) Bagi pihak pemiutang penghakiman - T/n Maxwell Kenion Cowdy & Jones Bagi pihak penghutang penghakiman - T/n Elison Wong
[2019] 1 LNS 798	KEMBANG MASYUR SENDIRIAN BERHAD v. PENTADBIR TANAH WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN Where an appeal is brought merely to challenge a decision of the High Court on the quantum of an award for compensation in respect of an acquisition of land, such ground of appeal is clearly incompetent and the appeal ought to be dismissed in limine. LAND LAW: Acquisition of land - Compensation - Dissatisfaction over additional compensations for land value, injurious affection and severance - Appeal on ground of quantum of compensation alone - Whether there was breach of ss. 40A and 40C of Land Acquisition Act 1960 ('Act 1960') - Whether appeal to merely challenge award of compensation was competent - Whether High Court had comprehensively and appropriately dealt with grievances listed out by appellant under First Schedule of Act 1960 - Whether High Court had considered opinions and justification of both government and private assessors For the appellants - Wong Chong Wah, Amarjeet Singh, Wong Chun Keat & Yee Wui Khong; M/s Zubeda & Amarjeet For the respondent - SFC Nazran Mohd Sham; Attoney General Chambers
[2019] 1 LNS 808	MOHD DAN ABDUL HAMID v. PP 1. There is no material prejudice to an accused which warrants the setting aside of a conviction and the convening of a new trial where a trial is fractured and heard by three different judges prior to its conclusion. 2. It is in order for a judge to resolve an issue relating to the credibility of a key witness although the said judge did not have the audio-visual advantage of the said witness giving evidence first hand. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Appeal - Appeal against conviction and sentence - Appeal grounded purely on question of law - Fractured trial - Case heard by three different judges before conclusion - Whether accused was materially prejudiced - Whether warrants setting aside of conviction and order for new trial - Whether an order pursuant to proviso to s. 18 of Courts of Judicature Act 1964 ought to be made - Whether it was safe for judge to resolve issue relating to credibility of a key witness without audio-visual advantage of the said witness giving evidence first hand - Whether it was mandatory for fresh judge to recall witness CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Appeal - Appeal against conviction and sentence - Appeal grounded purely on question of law - Basis of conviction unclear - Failure of trial judge to tell accused at the end of the trial whether he was convicted based on presumed trafficking or actual trafficking or both - Whether accused was deprived of fair trial CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Trial - Procedure - Conduct of trial - Evidence in chief - Evidence in chief of witness tendered through witness statement - Whether witness statement should be read aloud in open court - Criminal Procedure Code, s. 402B(6) For the appellant - Hisyam Teh Poh Teik & Naran Singh; M/s Teh Poh Teik & Co For the public prosecution - Jasmee Hamiza Jaafar, Deputy Public Prosecutor; Attorney General's Chambers

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LNS Article(s)

1. CHANGES UNDER THE FRANCHISE (AMENDMENT) ACT 2020* ^{[Read excerpt]}
   by Yap Khai Jian [2020] 1 LNS(A) xcv

[2020] 1 LNS(A) xcv



MALAYSIA

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CHANGES UNDER THE FRANCHISE (AMENDMENT) ACT 2020*

by
Yap Khai Jian

In this article, Yap Khai Jian analyses the changes introduced under the Franchise (Amendment) Act 2020.

Introduction

The Franchise Act 1998 (“FA”) has been the main source of legislation which governs franchise businesses and the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee in Malaysia for more than 20 years. On 3 December 2019, the Franchise (Amendment) Bill 2019 was passed by the Lower House of the Parliament and received Royal Assent on 20 February 2020. Subsequently, the Franchise (Amendment) Act 2020 (“the Amendment Act”) was gazetted on 6 March 2020. Some of the changes under the Amendment Act are as follows.Introduction The Franchise Act 1998 (“FA”) has been the main source of legislation which governs franchise businesses and the relationship between a franchisor and franchisee in Malaysia for more than 20 years. On 3 December 2019, the Franchise (Amendment) Bill 2019 was passed by the Lower House of the Parliament and received Royal Assent on 20 February 2020. Subsequently, the Franchise (Amendment) Act 2020 (“the Amendment Act”) was gazetted on 6 March 2020. Some of the changes under the Amendment Act are as follows.

. . .

*Published with kind permission of M/s Shearn Delamore & Co.

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2. RESOLVING CONFLICT OF LAWS ISSUES ARISING OUT OF CONVERSION IN MALAYSIA* ^{[Read excerpt]}
   by Nur Syakirah Binti Mohd Adnan** [2020] 1 LNS(A) xcvi

[2020] 1 LNS(A) xcvi



MALAYSIA

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RESOLVING CONFLICT OF LAWS ISSUES ARISING OUT OF CONVERSION IN MALAYSIA*

by
Nur Syakirah Binti Mohd Adnan**

ABSTRACT

Conflict caused by conversion of religion has contributed to a number of cases involving the legal status of apostasy and the effect of a child's religion in cases of unilateral conversion to Islam as well as parental child abductions, either within the same country, or internationally.^[1] Nevertheless, conversion cases in general have raised particular complexities in navigating jurisdictional issues between the civil courts and the Syariah courts and has been standing unresolved for many years.

The root cause of this issue is the existence of a grey area between Article 121(1) and Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution. This led to the Federal Constitution to be amended in 1988 by inserting a new Article 121(1A) in which the Civil Courts cannot encroach on matters within the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court.^[2]

. . .

* This document is a product of extensive research conducted at the International Islamic University Malaysia - 2020.

** G1915632 IIUM, LLM in International Law adnansyakira@yahoo.com

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3. CASTER SEMENYA: PENALISED FOR THE WAY SHE WAS BORN - WHERE DOES MANKIND STAND?* ^{[Read excerpt]}
   by Nimalan Devaraja** [2020] 1 LNS(A) xcvii

[2020] 1 LNS(A) xcvii



MALAYSIA

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CASTER SEMENYA: PENALISED FOR THE WAY SHE WAS BORN - WHERE DOES MANKIND STAND?*

by
Nimalan Devaraja**

"Mankind has always feared what it doesn't understand" - Magneto

ORIGINS

This story has its origins in 2014 when Indian athlete, Dutee Chand (“Dutee”), initiated proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (“CAS”) to challenge the IAAF Regulations Governing Eligibility of Females with Hyperandrogenism to Compete in Women’s Competition (“Hyperandrogenism Regulations”).

The Hyperandrogenism Regulations were introduced by the International Athletics Association Federation (“IAAF”) in 2011 to limit the participation of female athletes with high androgen levels (a group of hormones) in female categories. The most well-known androgen is testosterone which has been shown to have a direct effect on athletic performance. The Hyperandrogenism Regulations set the maximum testosterone limit for females with hyperandrogenism at 10 nmol/L. This was well above the maximum testosterone level in the female population and slightly above the minimum level in the male population.

. . .

*© 2020 Skrine. This Article was first published in the July 2020 issue of Alerts, a Skrine publication. Reproduced with permission of Skrine.

**Partner, Messrs Skrine.

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