Media 2023

Court ban on ‘Gay is OK!’ book restored

New Straits Times | The majority ruling noted the possibility that the book may prejudice public order, moral values, and public interests, citing Article 10(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution which gives Parliament the power to make laws to restrict the freedom of expression and speech if necessary. Legal action was filed over the book ban through law firm Messrs AmerBON in 2021.

International laws leave Malaysians vulnerable to unfair dismissal, says lawyer

Free Malaysia Today | Two international laws leave Malaysian employees at foreign embassies vulnerable to unfair dismissal. Human rights lawyer Edmund Bon called on Putrajaya to emulate the UK, which last year proposed amendments to its State Immunity Act 1978 that will allow workers in embassies and consulates to take their employment cases to court.

Ex-army man spared death sentence, jailed for drug possession

Free Malaysia Today | The Court of Appeal reduced a charge of drug trafficking to one of possession for an ex-army staff. Defence counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad informed the bench that representations to the AGC for a reduction in the charge had been accepted by the prosecution.

NGOs fail in bid to stay delisting of liquid nicotine

Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer Edmund Bon had argued that there was a grave danger to public health, particularly children’s health, if liquid and gel nicotine were removed from control under the Poisons Act 1952. The AGC objected to the stay request on said exemption order, arguing that there were no special circumstances to justify stay proceedings and likening it to an injunction.

Court denies anti-tobacco bid to suspend liquid nicotine delisting

CodeBlue | The High Court judge said that the applicants needed to demonstrate special circumstances to justify a stay of the exemption order on liquid nicotine. Three CSOs had filed a lawsuit, represented by legal counsel Edmund Bon, seeking to contest the order issued by the Health Minister, which had overridden unanimous objections from the Poisons Board regarding this declassification.

Court releases Wan Saiful’s passport for Japan trip

Free Malaysia Today | Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan is among members of the parliamentary special select committee on infrastructure making a 10-day official working visit to Japan. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad confirmed that the application to have the passport released was for the purpose of this trip.

Company director fails to strike out KL Tower corruption charge

Free Malaysia Today | The company director had filed an application to strike out a charge under section 16(b)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 alleging that it was flawed, unfounded, and lacked important details. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad represented the accused.

Home Minister defends Swatch raids, citing public complaints

Malaysiakini | Asked for comments on lawyer New Sin Yew’s argument that the Home Ministry had illegally raided and seized Swatch products, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail defended the move, citing public complaints and the PPPA, which is under the purview of the Home Ministry’s enforcement and control division.

Muhyiddin dilepas, bebas 4 tuduhan guna kedudukan untuk suapan RM232.5 juta

Harian Metro | Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi berkata, “Jika perbicaraan diteruskan akan menyebabkan Muhyiddin tidak dapat menyediakan pembelaan sewajarnya dan menjadikan pendakwaan terhadapnya sebagai satu penyalahgunaan proses mahkamah.” Presiden Bersatu Muhyiddin Yassin diwakili peguam Hisyam Teh Poh Teik dan Amer Hamzah Arshad,

Muhyiddin succeeds in having abuse of power charges dropped, court rules them defective

Malay Mail | Former PM Muhyiddin Yassin succeeded in having four abuse of power charges against him quashed, with three remaining criminal charges under the anti-money laundering act pending at the Sessions Court. The High Court ruled that the four charges did not disclose an offence under section 23(1) of the MACC Act and section 154 of the CPC.

Court allows lawsuit against Malaysia’s Health Minister on vape liquid to proceed

Malay Mail | The High Court granted the leave for judicial review by the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, the Malaysian Green Lung Association, and Voice of the Children Sdn Bhd. Lawyer Edmund Bon said the group also applied for an interim stay on the Health Minister’s order so that vape liquid and vape gel will be temporarily included back under the Poisons List until the lawsuit is heard.

MCTC wins leave to challenge liquid nicotine delisting

CodeBlue | The High Court granted leave to three CSOs to pursue judicial review of the Health Minister’s order exempting liquid nicotine from the Poisons List. Counsel Edmund Bon and others argued that the liquid nicotine exemption exposed children to the unfettered purchase of e-cigarettes and vapes, due to a lack of regulations prohibiting sales to minors.

Lawyer slams ‘illegal’ Swatch raids, ban order made three months after

Malaysiakini | Lawyer New Sin Yew said the Home Ministry had acted illegally in May to raid Swatch stores and seize 172 items because there was no gazetted order under section 7 of the PPPA at that time. Article 7 of the Federal Constitution provides that “no person shall be punished for an act or omission which was not punishable by law when it was done or made…”.

1MDB judge discloses he and Jasmine Loo used to be law firm partners

Malaysiakini | During the RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial of former PM Najib Razak, KL High Court judge Collin Sequerah disclosed that he used to be law firm partners with now detained 1MDB-linked fugitive Jasmine Loo 10-15 years ago. Loo surrendered herself and, through her lawyers from AmerBON, said she would assist authorities in expediting asset recovery efforts.

1MDB’s Jasmine Loo still under police probe, says DIGP

New Straits Times | Former general counsel for 1MDB Jasmine Loo is still under police investigation and is expected to be further investigated by the MACC. Her lawyers Amer Hamzah and Edmund Bon said their client will cooperate fully with the authorities.

消息:逃亡5年后秘密返马 卢爱璇拟与政府警方合作

星洲网 | 一马发展有限公司(1MDB)前法律顾问卢爱璇的代表律师,于4月初联系内政部高级官员,希望探讨她逃亡5年后回国的可能性。AmerBON, Advocates律师事务发文告说,其客户“优先与有关执法单位合作,协助1MDB调查,协助马来西亚政府加快追回资产的工作”。

After years on the run, 1MDB fugitive Jasmine Loo returned to Malaysia in a covert government op

Channel News Asia | In early April, Malaysian lawyers for 1MDB fugitive Jasmine Loo reached out to the Home Ministry to explore the prospect of their client returning home after five years on the run. After Loo’s arrest, law firm AmerBON, Advocates said in a statement that their client’s priority is to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and assist in expediting assets recovery efforts.

Court ban on ‘Gay is OK!’ book restored

New Straits Times | The majority ruling noted the possibility that the book may prejudice public order, moral values, and public interests, citing Article 10(2)(a) of the Federal Constitution which gives Parliament the power to make laws to restrict the freedom of expression and speech if necessary. Legal action was filed over the book ban through law firm Messrs AmerBON in 2021.

International laws leave Malaysians vulnerable to unfair dismissal, says lawyer

Free Malaysia Today | Two international laws leave Malaysian employees at foreign embassies vulnerable to unfair dismissal. Human rights lawyer Edmund Bon called on Putrajaya to emulate the UK, which last year proposed amendments to its State Immunity Act 1978 that will allow workers in embassies and consulates to take their employment cases to court.

Ex-army man spared death sentence, jailed for drug possession

Free Malaysia Today | The Court of Appeal reduced a charge of drug trafficking to one of possession for an ex-army staff. Defence counsel Amer Hamzah Arshad informed the bench that representations to the AGC for a reduction in the charge had been accepted by the prosecution.

NGOs fail in bid to stay delisting of liquid nicotine

Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer Edmund Bon had argued that there was a grave danger to public health, particularly children’s health, if liquid and gel nicotine were removed from control under the Poisons Act 1952. The AGC objected to the stay request on said exemption order, arguing that there were no special circumstances to justify stay proceedings and likening it to an injunction.

Court denies anti-tobacco bid to suspend liquid nicotine delisting

CodeBlue | The High Court judge said that the applicants needed to demonstrate special circumstances to justify a stay of the exemption order on liquid nicotine. Three CSOs had filed a lawsuit, represented by legal counsel Edmund Bon, seeking to contest the order issued by the Health Minister, which had overridden unanimous objections from the Poisons Board regarding this declassification.

Court releases Wan Saiful’s passport for Japan trip

Free Malaysia Today | Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan is among members of the parliamentary special select committee on infrastructure making a 10-day official working visit to Japan. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad confirmed that the application to have the passport released was for the purpose of this trip.

Company director fails to strike out KL Tower corruption charge

Free Malaysia Today | The company director had filed an application to strike out a charge under section 16(b)(B) of the MACC Act 2009 alleging that it was flawed, unfounded, and lacked important details. Lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad represented the accused.

Home Minister defends Swatch raids, citing public complaints

Malaysiakini | Asked for comments on lawyer New Sin Yew’s argument that the Home Ministry had illegally raided and seized Swatch products, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail defended the move, citing public complaints and the PPPA, which is under the purview of the Home Ministry’s enforcement and control division.

Muhyiddin dilepas, bebas 4 tuduhan guna kedudukan untuk suapan RM232.5 juta

Harian Metro | Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi berkata, “Jika perbicaraan diteruskan akan menyebabkan Muhyiddin tidak dapat menyediakan pembelaan sewajarnya dan menjadikan pendakwaan terhadapnya sebagai satu penyalahgunaan proses mahkamah.” Presiden Bersatu Muhyiddin Yassin diwakili peguam Hisyam Teh Poh Teik dan Amer Hamzah Arshad,

Muhyiddin succeeds in having abuse of power charges dropped, court rules them defective

Malay Mail | Former PM Muhyiddin Yassin succeeded in having four abuse of power charges against him quashed, with three remaining criminal charges under the anti-money laundering act pending at the Sessions Court. The High Court ruled that the four charges did not disclose an offence under section 23(1) of the MACC Act and section 154 of the CPC.

Court allows lawsuit against Malaysia’s Health Minister on vape liquid to proceed

Malay Mail | The High Court granted the leave for judicial review by the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control, the Malaysian Green Lung Association, and Voice of the Children Sdn Bhd. Lawyer Edmund Bon said the group also applied for an interim stay on the Health Minister’s order so that vape liquid and vape gel will be temporarily included back under the Poisons List until the lawsuit is heard.

MCTC wins leave to challenge liquid nicotine delisting

CodeBlue | The High Court granted leave to three CSOs to pursue judicial review of the Health Minister’s order exempting liquid nicotine from the Poisons List. Counsel Edmund Bon and others argued that the liquid nicotine exemption exposed children to the unfettered purchase of e-cigarettes and vapes, due to a lack of regulations prohibiting sales to minors.

Lawyer slams ‘illegal’ Swatch raids, ban order made three months after

Malaysiakini | Lawyer New Sin Yew said the Home Ministry had acted illegally in May to raid Swatch stores and seize 172 items because there was no gazetted order under section 7 of the PPPA at that time. Article 7 of the Federal Constitution provides that “no person shall be punished for an act or omission which was not punishable by law when it was done or made…”.

1MDB judge discloses he and Jasmine Loo used to be law firm partners

Malaysiakini | During the RM2.28 billion 1MDB corruption trial of former PM Najib Razak, KL High Court judge Collin Sequerah disclosed that he used to be law firm partners with now detained 1MDB-linked fugitive Jasmine Loo 10-15 years ago. Loo surrendered herself and, through her lawyers from AmerBON, said she would assist authorities in expediting asset recovery efforts.

1MDB’s Jasmine Loo still under police probe, says DIGP

New Straits Times | Former general counsel for 1MDB Jasmine Loo is still under police investigation and is expected to be further investigated by the MACC. Her lawyers Amer Hamzah and Edmund Bon said their client will cooperate fully with the authorities.

消息:逃亡5年后秘密返马 卢爱璇拟与政府警方合作

星洲网 | 一马发展有限公司(1MDB)前法律顾问卢爱璇的代表律师,于4月初联系内政部高级官员,希望探讨她逃亡5年后回国的可能性。AmerBON, Advocates律师事务发文告说,其客户“优先与有关执法单位合作,协助1MDB调查,协助马来西亚政府加快追回资产的工作”。

After years on the run, 1MDB fugitive Jasmine Loo returned to Malaysia in a covert government op

Channel News Asia | In early April, Malaysian lawyers for 1MDB fugitive Jasmine Loo reached out to the Home Ministry to explore the prospect of their client returning home after five years on the run. After Loo’s arrest, law firm AmerBON, Advocates said in a statement that their client’s priority is to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and assist in expediting assets recovery efforts.