AG receives investigation papers over royal brawl

Tunku Nadzimuddin holds pictures showing his injuries allegedly sustained in the Oct 25 brawl. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 — The Attorney-General’s Chambers have received the police investigation report over the alleged brawl last year between two groups from the royal families of Johor and Negeri Sembilan, and will soon decide whether to charge any parties over the incident.

Member of Negeri Sembilan royalty Tunku Nadzimuddin Tunku Mudzaffar last week blew the lid wide open on the incident, which has seen very little publicity because of the sensitivities surrounding royal households.

He claimed he and his friends were badly beaten up at gunpoint by the Raja Muda of Johor, Raja Muda Tunku Ismail Idris Abdul Majid, and his bodyguards at the Crowne Plaza Hotel here in the wee hours of the morning on Oct 25 last year.

With the submission of the report, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein says the police have concluded their responsibility by investigating the claims and the ball was now in the AG’s court whether charges would be filed.

Hishammuddin explained that the belated conclusion of the investigation — coming 11 months after the brawl — was because the two parties reportedly had wanted to settle the matter privately. He added, however, that the incident was an offence regardless.

The incident may reignite debate about the indiscretions of royalty here. In the 1990s former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad managed to push through amendments to the Constitution which removed the immunity of royalty from prosecution.

Under the Constitution, the country’s nine Sultans can be tried only by a special court. Other members of royal households are not immune from prosecution and can be charged for criminal offences.