Former premier Najib Abdul Razak was not the only politician spared from donning the MACC's orange lockup uniform when taken to court to face charges, deputy commissioner of operations Mohd Azam Baki said today.
Speaking as a guest on MACC’s talkshow on the Bernama radio station this morning, Azam clarified that investigating officers have the discretion to decide whether arrested individuals should be made to wear the orange uniform.
“Many people have raised this question. So I would like to state that there are many who wore it (the orange uniform) and many who did not.
“It is up to an investigator's discretion on whether there is need (for a suspect) to wear certain clothes,” he told a caller who inquired about Najib’s latest appearance in court on Thursday to face 25 1MDB-linked charges.
Four of the charges were brought by the MACC, while police are investigated the remaining 21 charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATF).
Najib first appeared in court on July 4 to three charges of criminal breach of trust and one for abuse of power relating to funds involving former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International Bhd.
On both occasions, he was dressed in a suit and tie, instead of the orange MACC uniform.
On what criteria investigating officers use to decide what arrested individuals wear, Azam (photo) explained that several aspects are taken into consideration, including whether the individual has the potential of escaping and blending into a crowd.
“In ordinary circumstances, if the person is deemed to have potential risk, they will be made to wear the orange uniform…so it on a case-by-case basis.
“I cannot say who should be made to wear the uniform and who should not. There are many other politicians who were not made to wear it and not handcuffed,” he said on the radio show.
Azam also stressed that investigators have to exercise caution in their decisions, as they would be blamed in the event of an escaped suspect.
He also noted that there have been recommendations made to improve the procedure from numerous quarters, including the Bar Council and Suhakam.
On Thursday, Najib was taken to the Jalan Duta Court Complex after questioning at PDRM’s commercial crime unit in Kuala Lumpur.
He also spent the previous night at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya.
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