Now, ex-AG Thomas to face contempt proceedings over remarks on murder case

The defence in the murder trial of former Cradle Fund CEO Nazrin Hassan today raised the issue of contempt of court over remarks made by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas in his recently published memoir “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”.

Defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told Shah Alam High Court judge Indera Ab Karim Ab Rahman that there were passages from the book which were subjudice to the case.

Thomas in his book had cast doubt on the credibility of Samirah Muzaffar and her two teenage sons who are accused of committing the 2018 murder of her former husband Nazrin.

“The versions of the widow and her two sons, that the upstairs rooms of their home caught fire, killing the former husband and father of the boys, did not seem credible. What was incredible was their explanation as to the cause of the fire,” Thomas wrote in his book, in which many of his narrations have been disputed by prominent individuals.

The book has also attracted condemnation over remarks seen as insulting to his former staff at the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

Thomas wrote that the testimonies of the accused only raised suspicion.

“According to them, his mobile phone had burst into flame. Their maid quickly left their home, and returned to Indonesia before the police could take her statement. Further suspicion.”

Shafee today argued that the statement touched on the merits of the ongoing trial, and urged the court to cite Thomas for contempt.

The court then suggested that the prosecution initiate contempt proceedings.

The prosecution said they would decide on the matter.

Samirah, 46, a former senior officer at the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation, her two sons aged 18 and 15, and Indonesian helper Eka Wahyu Lestari who remains at large, were charged with committing Nazrin’s murder at a house in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, between the late night of June 13 and the early hours of June 14, 2018.

The trial will resume on Feb 19.