The senior lawyer told the court, which is holding an inquest into Teoh Beng Hock's death, that Nazri had brazenly defied the doctrine of separation of powers by attempting to pre-judge a witness.
He was referring to the minister's statement branding famed Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojasnaunand as a “liar”.
Karpal, who acted for Teoh's brother, Meng Kee, told the coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas that Nazri's public statement was made as though Pornthip had committed perjury in the inquest.
He said the minister should not prejudge the witness and that it was for the court to decide whether she was a truthful witness.
"What the respondent (Nazri) has stated has a tendency to interfere with the administration of justice and amounts to serious contempt of court," stressed Karpal, according to Bernama.
He also noted that Pornthip was due to be recalled to give further evidence in assisting the coroner to arrive at a proper verdict in relation to Teoh's tragic death.
"Why not the court send the minister to prison and let the mosquito bite him in the prison?," asked Karpal, in relation to Nazri's comment at the Parliament lobby yesterday, that Meng Kee's action citing him (Nazri) for contempt was a small matter, akin to a "mosquito bite" and would not affect him.
Last Friday, Meng Kee filed a notice at the Magistrate's Court here to cite Nazri for contempt of court for allegedly branding Pornthip as a "liar" after she refused to attend the inquest tomorrow, claiming that she was under pressure from her own government and the Malaysian authorities.
British expert to testify next week
Meanwhile, the Coroner's Court has fixed April 26 to decide whether to grant leave to Meng Kee to cite Nazri for contempt of court.
Azmil said he needed time to look into the case laws submitted by Karpal before deciding on the matter.
The cornoer also fixed next Monday and Tuesday for British pathologist Dr Peter Vanesis to give his expert opinion on the first and second post-mortem carried out on Teoh's remains.
He fixed the dates after Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) head of prosecution Abdul Razak Musa confirmed Peter's attendance and that only flight interruption in London might force him to reschedule his flight.
"If (there is) any change in the flight, MACC will inform the court and all parties involved in this inquest before next Sunday," said Razak.
Earlier, Razak told the court that MACC and government-appointed counsel Tan Hock Chuan were very accomodative to Teoh's family counsel and Selangor- appointed counsel Malek Imtiaz Sarwar for Pornthip to be recalled as witness.
"This inquest was delayed for nearly six months and now they are saying that Pornthip could not make it and we (MACC) mainly engaged Peter to give his expert opinion based on the Thai phatologist's views on this matter," he added.
He said MACC did not intend to further delay the inquest proceedings and would facilitate Peter's attendance on Monday.
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