Bar Council member Syahredzan Johan has reminded the authorities that lawyers should not be identified with their clients or clients' causes.
His comment comes after inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said lawyer Americk Sidhu will be called soon to give his statement over the claims made by his client, Charles Suresh Morais ( photo ).
Syahredzan, however, said that this was “simply unacceptable”.
“This is simply unacceptable. Americk is discharging his duties as an advocate and solicitor to his client,” he said in a Facebook post last night.
“There is no reason for him to give his statement to the police,” Syahredzan added.
He said the authorities must learn to uphold the sacrosanct principle that lawyers should not be identified with their clients or clients' causes simply by representing them.
The principle, said the lawyer, was codified in the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers which states, among others, that governments must ensure that lawyers are able to perform their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference.
The announcement by Khalid yesterday was not the first time a lawyer becomes embroiled in the case of his or her client.
Chang detained under Sosma
Lawyer Matthias Chang, whose client is former Umno leader Khairuddin Abu Hassan, was detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma).
He was arrested in October when he went to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters to visit his client who was being held under Sosma.
Both were released on bail after being charged with sabotaging the Malaysian economy.
Khalid yesterday said Americk will be called to give his statement either today or tomorrow.
“He (Americk) must be responsible for what he (client) has done,” Khalid was quoted as saying by Bernama .
Charles left Malaysia through the Causeway after holding a press conference last Wednesday.
He had made a statutory declaration (SD) alleging high-level conspiracy in the murder of his elder brother, former deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais.
