More Police Reports Expected Over Alleged Mishandling Of Batu Puteh Case

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Lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali said the reports were aimed at addressing alleged mismanagement and misleading statements related to the RCI’s findings on the Batu Puteh case. (AFP pic)
PETALING JAYA: More police reports are expected to be filed in the coming days over the handling of the Batu Puteh sovereignty case, according to Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s lawyer.
Rafique Rashid Ali said this comes after several reports were made yesterday and today at various police stations nationwide, including in Wangsa Maju, Dang Wangi, Tampin, Subang Jaya, Cheras, Kajang and George Town.
He said the reports were aimed at addressing alleged mismanagement and misleading statements related to the royal commission of inquiry’s (RCI) findings on the case.
“It is also understood that more police reports will be filed in the coming days in Sungai Petani, Kedah, and other states,” he said in a statement.
Rafique, who represents the complainants, said reports have been made against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, transport minister Loke Siew Fook and former defence minister Mohamad Sabu.
He said the reports cite Anwar’s labelling of those involved in the case as “traitors” and the shifting stances of the three former ministers regarding the withdrawal of the Batu Puteh case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Rafique said former attorney-general Apandi Ali was also named in the police reports for alleged improper conduct in the handling of the Batu Puteh case, as highlighted by the RCI.
He said the complainants believe that those named in the reports had violated Sections 415(b), 504, and 505(b) of the Penal Code.
“The complainants hope that the police will investigate these reports fairly and impartially, without bias, and carry out their responsibilities transparently, including calling the named individuals for questioning,” he said.
The RCI’s declassified report, released earlier this month, said Mahathir had unilaterally decided against proceeding with the applications to review and interpret the ICJ’s 2008 decision on Batu Puteh.
The RCI said the then prime minister had written to the solicitor-general on May 21, 2018, stating that “to my view, this effort (the applications) need not be continued”.
Mahathir has since reiterated his denial that he had made a unilateral decision on the matter. - FMT

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