Sundra claims MACC’s plan to charge him violates international law.
Former Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) director Datuk Prof Dr Sundra Rajoo has been given until Tuesday to appear before the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court after he failed to turn up in court on Monday (March 25).
Sundra, who is being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), was expected to face three criminal charges on Monday.
DPP Kamal Baharin Omar applied for an arrest warrant following his absence.
Sessions Court judge Azura Alwi, however, rejected the application as the court was informed that Sundra would be attending a High Court proceeding on Tuesday.
“We will give him another 24 hours to be present after the High Court proceedings,” she said.
Lawyer K Shanmuga, who is representing Sundra in the High Court matter, was present at Monday’s proceeding as amicus curiae (friend of the court).
Sundra had reportedly questioned the MACC’s plans to charge him over offences allegedly committed during his time in office, a day before his attempt to assert immunity from the High Court.
He had said that as a former high officer of the AIAC, he has immunity from any legal action taken against him concerning his period of service.
The High Court is scheduled to hear a leave application for judicial review by Sundra on the purported immunity on Tuesday.
Sundra’s no-show in court today was criticized on social media by Malaysians who wondered at his insistence on immunity from the law when he had declared himself to be innocent of all allegations against him.
Sundra led the AIAC for nine years.
He resigned as AIAC director in November 2018 following damning allegations against him in an anonymous letter that was sent to ministers, the inspector-general of police and the attorney-general, among others.
The letter alleged that he had used the centre’s funds to ensure the ministers extended his contract.
The 63-year-old is seeking a declaration that, as a high officer of the AIAC, he is entitled to protection for acts and omissions in his official capacity.
Sundra, who is a former Fifa Ethics Committee judge, was held overnight in November after flying in from Zurich, where the world football body has its headquarters.
He was released after a magistrate dismissed an application for a remand order by the MACC on the grounds that he has diplomatic immunity as head of the AIAC.