Zahid: Mahkamah Perancis tak boleh sentuh kita
Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, mahkamah Perancis tidak mempunyai kuasa untuk mengarahkan rakyat Malaysia membuat pengakuan dalam inkuiri bagi menyiasat urusniaga kapal selam Malaysia-Perancis yang sedang berlangsung.
Rakyat Malaysia tidak tertakluk kepada undung-undang negara itu, katanya dalam sidang media selepas lawatan ketua tentara Thailand di kementeriannya, seperti disiarkan oleh Mob.tv.
Sementara itu, Mahkamah Perancis yang menjalankan inkuiri berhubung urusniaga kapal selam Scorpene Malaysia-Perancis mempunyai kuasa memanggil semua pihak untuk membuat pengakuan dalam prosiding di negara itu.
"Mahkamah
Perancis mempunyai bidang kuasa terhadap semua orang, tidak kira orang
Perancis atau tidak, selagi mereka terlibat dalam perkara melibatkan
inkuiri sedia ada."Dakwaan sebaliknya salah dan mengelirukan," kata peguam Perancis Joseph Breham dalam kenyataan yang keluarkan Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).
Breham (kiri) mewakili NGO hak asasi itu, yang merujuk kepada mahkamah Perancis.
Menteri Pertahanan Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sebelum ini berkata, mahkamah Perancis tidak mempunyai kuasa mengarahkan rakyat Malaysia membuat pengakuan dalam inkuiri yang sedang berlangsung itu.
Rakyat Malaysia tidak tertakluk kepada undung-undang negara itu, katanya dalam sidang media selepas lawatan ketua tentara Thailand di kementeriannya, seperti disiarkan oleh Mob.tv.
Zahid antara saksi yang disenaraikan Suaram kepada mahkamah Perancis.- malaysiakini
Enggan hadir Mahkamah Perancis bukti Najib, Zahid bersalah
Paris court can't touch us, says Zahid Hamidi
Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday insisted that the French courts have no jurisdiction to summon Malaysians to testify in the ongoing inquiry into the Malaysian purchase of French submarines.
“Who are they to issue a warrant of arrest? We are not subjected to French laws,” he said at a press conference after an official visit by the Thai army chief at the Defence Ministry, aired in full by Mob.tv.
You are wrong, French lawyer tells Zahid Hamidi...
Lawyer Joseph Brehem, who is currently in
France pursuing the inquiry into the Malaysian purchase of French
submarines, rebutted Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s statement
that the French courts have no jurisdiction over Malaysians.
“French
courts have jurisdiction on anyone, being French or not, as soon as
they are involved in a matter the courts are inquiring on.
To say otherwise is either misleading or erroneous,” Brehem (right in photo) said in a statement issued by Suaram today.
Suaram, the local human rights NGO, has filed a civil suit with the French courts to look into the government’s purchase of the submarines.
Yesterday Ahmad Zahid insisted that the French courts have no jurisdiction to summon Malaysians to testify in the ongoing inquiry.
“Who are they to issue a warrant of arrest? We are not subjected to French laws,” he said.
He was responding to an earlier statement by Brehem that an international arrest warrant can be issued by a French judge if a witness refuses to assist in an inquiry following the issuance of a subpoena.
“If the witness refuses to abide by the subpoena, the court can issue a notice mandat d'amener, compelling the witness to appear before it. If the witness (still) fails to oblige, a warrant of arrest may be issued.
“The warrant of arrest is applicable within the French territory, and may be internationalised if the judge deems it necessary,” said Brehem.
Ahmad Zahid is named in the list of seven witnesses proposed by Suaram, which was accepted by French investigating judge Roger Le Loire.
However, this does not mean that all seven witnesses, including Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his associate Abdul Razak Baginda, will be subpoenaed by the inquiry.
The French judge is currently in the process of issuing subpoenas.- malaysiakini
“French
courts have jurisdiction on anyone, being French or not, as soon as
they are involved in a matter the courts are inquiring on. To say otherwise is either misleading or erroneous,” Brehem (right in photo) said in a statement issued by Suaram today.
Suaram, the local human rights NGO, has filed a civil suit with the French courts to look into the government’s purchase of the submarines.
Yesterday Ahmad Zahid insisted that the French courts have no jurisdiction to summon Malaysians to testify in the ongoing inquiry.
Warrant of arrest
He was responding to an earlier statement by Brehem that an international arrest warrant can be issued by a French judge if a witness refuses to assist in an inquiry following the issuance of a subpoena.
“If the witness refuses to abide by the subpoena, the court can issue a notice mandat d'amener, compelling the witness to appear before it. If the witness (still) fails to oblige, a warrant of arrest may be issued.
“The warrant of arrest is applicable within the French territory, and may be internationalised if the judge deems it necessary,” said Brehem.
Ahmad Zahid is named in the list of seven witnesses proposed by Suaram, which was accepted by French investigating judge Roger Le Loire.
However, this does not mean that all seven witnesses, including Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his associate Abdul Razak Baginda, will be subpoenaed by the inquiry.
The French judge is currently in the process of issuing subpoenas.- malaysiakini
Zahid's reluctance to cooperate raises questions...
Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's declaration that the French courts
cannot summon him for the ongoing inquiry into Malaysia's purchase of
French submarines only shows how 'fearful' he is.
It also raises concerns about Zahid's and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's involvement in the matter, PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 said today.
The reluctance of Najib and Zahid to attend the inquiry raises awkward questions among the people, as though they were attempting to hide something, Jingga 13 chief coordinator Fariz Musa said in a statement.
"Jingga
13 urges (Najib and Zahid) not to fear attending the inquiry if they
are not guilty and are not involved in the scandal," Fariz (right) said, describing the issue as important and requiring the commitment of the two ministers.
"What is being hidden by them?" he asked.
The statement comes in response to Zahid's insistence yesterday that the French courts have no jurisdiction to summon Malaysians for the inquiry, as Malaysians are not subject to French laws.
However, lawyer Joseph Brehem, who is assisting in the inquiry in Paris, today rebutted Zahid's claim and said French courts have jurisdiction over any person involved in a matter being investigated by the court, French or not.
Zahid is named in the list of seven witnesses proposed by human rights NGO Suaram for the French inquiry into kickbacks paid for the purchase of the Scorpene submarines - which are illegal in France - and which was accepted by French investigating judge Roger Le Loire.
‘Zahid, don't be overconfident'
Echoing Fariz's statements was PAS Youth information chief Riduan Mohd Nor, who reminded Zahid not to be "overconfident" about not being charged by the French courts just because he is a cabinet minister.
In a press statement today, Riduan (right)
said Zahid's reluctance to attend the inquiry would only reinforce the
suspicions of the people about his involvement in the matter.
"His reluctance to appear in the French court only validates the perception of many that he and the prime minister seem to be involved in a huge scandal that is embarrassing to the country," he said.
He then urged the defence minister to be brave in cooperating with the inquiry for the sake of determining the truth.
"There is nothing for him to fear if he and Najib are in the right because the French courts do not differentiate between regular citizens and national leaders in determining justice," Riduan added.- malaysiaini
comments...
HangTuah: This is the minister who once said he was prepared to lay down his life for the PM but did not have the balls to go down in the Scorpene submarine with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Maybe the French can't legally touch Najib and Abdul Razak Baginda but that does not exonerate them from having committed graft in this particular case.
If they did no wrong why should they be scared to testify? You know why and I know why and everybody knows why. The 100-plus million euros 'commission' to Perimekar is clear evidence of a hefty kickback. You know what, when it comes to matters of such import, our former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has nothing to say. I wonder why. I really cannot wait for the beans to be spilled.
It also raises concerns about Zahid's and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's involvement in the matter, PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 said today.
The reluctance of Najib and Zahid to attend the inquiry raises awkward questions among the people, as though they were attempting to hide something, Jingga 13 chief coordinator Fariz Musa said in a statement.
"Jingga
13 urges (Najib and Zahid) not to fear attending the inquiry if they
are not guilty and are not involved in the scandal," Fariz (right) said, describing the issue as important and requiring the commitment of the two ministers."What is being hidden by them?" he asked.
The statement comes in response to Zahid's insistence yesterday that the French courts have no jurisdiction to summon Malaysians for the inquiry, as Malaysians are not subject to French laws.
However, lawyer Joseph Brehem, who is assisting in the inquiry in Paris, today rebutted Zahid's claim and said French courts have jurisdiction over any person involved in a matter being investigated by the court, French or not.
Zahid is named in the list of seven witnesses proposed by human rights NGO Suaram for the French inquiry into kickbacks paid for the purchase of the Scorpene submarines - which are illegal in France - and which was accepted by French investigating judge Roger Le Loire.
‘Zahid, don't be overconfident'
Echoing Fariz's statements was PAS Youth information chief Riduan Mohd Nor, who reminded Zahid not to be "overconfident" about not being charged by the French courts just because he is a cabinet minister.
In a press statement today, Riduan (right)
said Zahid's reluctance to attend the inquiry would only reinforce the
suspicions of the people about his involvement in the matter."His reluctance to appear in the French court only validates the perception of many that he and the prime minister seem to be involved in a huge scandal that is embarrassing to the country," he said.
He then urged the defence minister to be brave in cooperating with the inquiry for the sake of determining the truth.
"There is nothing for him to fear if he and Najib are in the right because the French courts do not differentiate between regular citizens and national leaders in determining justice," Riduan added.- malaysiaini
comments...
HangTuah: This is the minister who once said he was prepared to lay down his life for the PM but did not have the balls to go down in the Scorpene submarine with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Maybe the French can't legally touch Najib and Abdul Razak Baginda but that does not exonerate them from having committed graft in this particular case.
If they did no wrong why should they be scared to testify? You know why and I know why and everybody knows why. The 100-plus million euros 'commission' to Perimekar is clear evidence of a hefty kickback. You know what, when it comes to matters of such import, our former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has nothing to say. I wonder why. I really cannot wait for the beans to be spilled.
Cantabrigian: Zahid, of course you are not subjected to French law, but the company in France is. Corruption is not a one-way crime. There has to be a giver and a taker.It's not about arresting and punishing you, but mostly to find the facts about the criminal act. If they can find a link that Umno proxies were the ones doing the unlawful stuff, it's good enough for the rakyat. And don't blame them for pointing the finger at you later because you have already been given the chance to testify and defend yourself.
Freemsia: Why are you so worried about being called up to testify in a Paris court? If you are innocent, you do not have anything to fear or be so defensive. Unless, of course...?
cheers.
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