Underwear Antic Comes Under Fire

Poor taste: The Customs officers covering their faces with underwear

KUALA LUMPUR: The judiciary is not amused by the antics of some ac­­cused who hide their faces when being brought into the courtroom.

Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zul­kefli Ahmad Makinudin said it might open a discussion with the various enforcement agencies over the is­­sue.

“Everyone should come to court decently dressed,” he told The Star. “We can tell enforcement agencies to have officers on duty to ensure that the accused persons are pro­perly attired when they are in court.”

He was commenting on an incident when 15 Customs officers put on underwear over their heads to hide their faces as they were being brought into the Petaling Jaya M­­a­gistrates court to be remanded.

“It does not reflect well on the judiciary when these incidents happen,” said Justice Zulkefli, adding that he did not want to see a repeat of such antics.

Officer-in-charge at the KL court ACP Goh Kok Liang said his officers would make sure that accused persons and suspects were decently attired when they are brought to court.

“There is no law to stop them from hiding their face but they should not put underwear over their heads,” said ACP Goh. “If they want, they can put on a T-shirt.”

The 15 were among 28 Customs personnel subsequently charged with accepting bribes as an inducement not to take action over the smuggling of contraband.

They were arrested by the Malay­sian Anti-Corruption Commission. - The Star