The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya today issued a warrant of arrest on a former financial consultant for failure to turn up in his appeal proceedings today, in a bid to set aside a lower court’s decision to convict and jail him for acting as intermediary for four artistes for the purpose of prostitution, 16 years ago.
Justice Sulong Matjeraie, presiding a three-man panel, issued the warrant on Mohd Amin Jamadi, 41, after granting an application by Deputy Public Prosecutor V. Shoba.
Lawyer Kartar Singh, appearing for the two appellants, Mohd Amin and former production house manager Haslinda Merican M. A. Merican, 45, had earlier informed the court that Mohd Amin could not be located.
Sitting on the bench with Sulong were Court of Appeal judge Clement Allan Skinner and High Court judge Azahar Mohamed.
Mohd Amin and Haslinda were each sentenced to 10 months jail and fined RM5,000 by the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Oct 4, 2000, which found them guilty of committing the offence at the Ming Court Hotel lobby, Jalan Ampang, between 8pm and 10.30pm on June 1995.
On Nov 27, 2008, the Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected the duo’s appeal against their conviction and sentences and upheld the decision of the Sessions Court.
The High Court had, however, granted them a stay of execution, pending this appeal and also extended bail in the sum of RM5,000 with one surety for each of them.
The trial was given wide media coverage as the names of high-profile personalities and artists were mentioned in court.
Today, the panel also postponed hearing of their appeal to May 16, following Azahar’s recusal to hear the matter.
Azahar recused himself because he said he was attached to the Attorney-General’s Chambers as deputy head of the prosecution division at that material time, and had discussed with the deputy public prosecutor handling the
case.
Haslinda was present in today’s proceeding.
– Bernama
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