Media

The Washington Post | Mainthan Arumugam remains in prison on death row for murder, more than two years after the ostensible murder victim showed up at a family funeral. Criminal defense attorney Amer Hamzah began representing Mainthan in 2014 as he was struck by the unanswered questions raised in the case.

The Sun Daily | Three directors of a used tire processing company were charged with collaborating with a truck driver in disposing scheduled waste into Sungai Kim Kim. One of the directors was represented by Joshua Tay.

The Malaysian Reserve | Sessions Court judge for the case of the disposal of toxic waste into Sungai Kim Kim last March visited the tyre processing factory in the Tanjung Langsat Industrial Area, Johor Bahru. Also present were other interested parties in the case, and counsel Joshua Tay who represented one of the company directors, Sim Wei Der.

Free Malaysia Today | Lawyers in the country have pulled off a balancing act in electing an equal number of direct members from two opposing camps to manage the 2020/2021 Bar Council. Of the 12 council members elected, six are from the “Star” team, including AmerBON’s New Sin Yew.

Malaysiakini | The trial on the Sungai Kim Kim chemical dumping case began in the Sessions Court in Johor Bahru today. Among the accused was Sim Wei Der from Singapore, represented by counsel Joshua Tay.

Malaysiakini | Responding to Klang MP Charles Santiago’s article comparing the SOSMA cases of Yazid Sufaat and the LTTE detainees, counsel Amer Hamzah, New Sin Yew, and Joshua Tay argued that those who oppose laws on detention without trial should oppose its use against everyone, regardless of race, religion or political ideology.

New Straits Times | A witness in the murder trial of National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain told the High Court that he was certain who had hit and injured the victim because he had witnessed the incident. He was cross-examined by lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad who was representing the first and second accused in the trial.

Malaysiakini | Lawyers, including New Sin Yew and Amer Hamzah Arshad, expressed concern that those charged for purported links to a now-defunct terrorist group may not receive fair trial. They pointed out the trials would be governed by the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA), which makes it easier for the prosecution to secure a conviction and is open to abuse.

South China Morning Post | Pakatan Harapan reaches the 18-month mark in power amidst a slow pace of reforms. While acknowledging the positive strides made by the current government, human rights lawyer New Sin Yew critiqued its shifting stance on draconian laws and warned that pandering to right-wing groups would only alienate supporters.

Bernama | The trial of 18 students of Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) charged with injuring and murdering naval cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain turned emotional. During the proceedings, lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad, representing Muhammad Azamuddin, asked his client whether he had something to say to Zulharfan’s parents and this prompted the accused to make an apology.

New Straits Times | The second accused jointly charged with the murder of National Defence University of Malaysia (UPNM) cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain apologised during the examination in chief by counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad, who represented the first accused.

BFM | Constitutional lawyer New Sin Yew shared about Jho Low’s alleged Cypriot passport, the prohibition of dual citizenship for Malaysians, and what this means for Jho Low.

Malay Mail | Seremban Jaya assemblyman P. Gunasekaran and Gadek assemblyman G. Saminathan were charged with supporting a Sri Lankan militant group, which is now defunct. Human rights lawyer New Sin Yew weighed in on the positions of the elected representatives and the status of their habeas corpus application.

Free Malaysia Today | The High Court acquitted former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman of five counts of corruption amounting to US$12.8 million. He was represented by AmerBON’s Amer Hamzah Arshad and Joshua Tay, together with Francis Ng and Ragunath Kesavan.

Free Malaysia Today | The Malaysian Centre for Constitutionalism and Human Rights (MCCHR) has gathered a team of local and international experts, including our lawyers from AmerBON, to help Putrajaya review laws in five areas that concern human rights. The areas include freedom of assembly; freedom of expression and hate speech; anti-trafficking, anti-smuggling of people and modern slavery; nationality, statelessness and citizenship; and expanding civil society space for human rights organisations in Malaysia.

Free Malaysia Today | There should be no need for consent or permission to organise assemblies in areas under local councils as these are public places. Edmund Bon Tai Soon noted that this was among other issues in the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 highlighted for amendment by experts.

The Star | The High Court fixed Oct 18 as the case management date for former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, who was represented by counsel Joshua Tay and Sue Lu Hoe.