Press Release: Police must defend the right of lawyers to exercise their duties without fear or favour

The Bar Council condemns those responsible for the Molotov cocktail thrown at the home of Manjeet Singh Dhillon, a senior lawyer and former President of the Malaysian Bar, on 18 November 2009.

We call on the police to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that these perpetrators are apprehended and charged in court. Manjeet is of the view that the attack could be a warning against him over an interview he carried out with P.Balasubramaniam.

The throwing of the Molotov cocktail is a calculated act to intimidate and harass Manjeet to cease acting in the interest of his client. The Bar Council firmly believes that such an act of cowardice by the perpetrator/s must never be rewarded with impunity.

It is of utmost importance that members of the Bar are able to carry out their duties in upholding justice without fear or favour. This violent act against a member of the Bar, who was simply exercising his duties, is an assault to the cause of justice. The police must pursue this matter diligently and transparently so that all members of the Bar are protected against intimidation during the course of representing their clients.


Ragunath Kesavan
President
Malaysian Bar

23 November 2009