Jamal’s no-show an abuse of legal process, arrest warrant to be issued.
Lawyer Ramkarpal Singh has urged the police to arrest the Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos for not turning himself in at the Ampang Police District headquarters on Monday (May 30).
“This nonsense must stop. We are no longer the past administration,” the Bukit Gelugor MP said in a statement.
“Jamal must be arrested and he must be arrested now.”
Ramkarpal called on the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, to arrest Jamal or risk being labelled “useless”, thus having to resign.
“The PDRM (Royal Malaysia Police) must take the necessary steps to ensure law and order. Jamal was scheduled to surrender today. He did not.
“Is the force so hopeless that it can’t even arrest a person like Jamal for the purposes of investigations?” he asked.
Jamal recorded a video message appealing to the police to give him time to turn himself in.
“I am not rejecting the rule of law but I fear there are other serious actions awaiting me as I have been blacklisted from travelling overseas,” he said in the video.
He also claimed there were “hidden hands” with the power to instruct the police to target him.
Other lawyers have also weighed in, saying that Jamal’s failure to turn up at the police station yesterday to explain why he absconded before his bail was completed is an abuse of the criminal litigation process.
“Immediate action to find him must be done. He cannot be blowing hot and cold and violate the law, and then play an innocent game,” senior criminal lawyer Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu said.
He pointed out to the Malay Mail that Jamal has given many excuses, claiming that he will come forward to clarify the so-called misunderstanding that led to him absconding from the hospital.
“It is apparent from his video yesterday that he committed the offence but claiming such a ridiculous defence. This sets a bad precedent for the Criminal Justice system in Malaysia,” said Baljit.
Lawyer Emile Ezra Hussain said the explanation by Jamal in the video showed that he was not taking the law seriously.
“Appropriate action from the police is necessary to restore order and the confidence of the rakyat towards the authorities,” he said.
Senior lawyer Salim Bashir said Jamal had breached the conditions of the bail when he fled from the hospital when the bail process was incomplete.
Meanwhile, Senior Asst Comm Fadzil Ahmat said the police had provided Jamal with ample time to appropriately respond to his unfinished bail documentation process but the latter had refused to comply with the authorities after six days since his ‘escape’.
“Instead of assisting with police procedure, Jamal still attempts to dawdle via various viral statements prepared by himself on social media,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Fadzil said an arrest warrant will be issued against the fugitive politician.
He added that the Red Shirts leader was slapped with three charges last week, but there are also six other pending criminal cases involving the controversial figure.
He dismissed Jamal’s allegations that the police were acting at the behest of certain parties to take action against him.
“He is being investigated for many cases, so we have to investigate and follow through one case at a time,” he said.
He added that the police had hoped for Jamal’s cooperation, but his failure to surrender showed his disregard for the law.
“If you really think you are innocent, why fail to show up?” he said.
After failing to complete his bail arrangement last Friday (May 25), Jamal promised to turn himself in at the Ampang police district headquarters on Wednesday, but he did not show up.
Related reports:
May 30, Fearing Arrest, ‘Victimised’ Fugitive Jamal Seeks Refuge
May 29, Jamal Says Will Turn Himself in Tomorrow
May 27, Jamal Yunos Emerges
May 26, Wanted: Jamal Yunos
May 25, Jamal Charged in Hospital for Smashing Beer Bottles
May 22, Jamal Arrested over Firearms Offence