Latheefa says she has not been served Najib's contempt papers, yet

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Latheefa Koya (pic) says she has yet to be served the notice for the contempt of court proceedings that will be initiated by Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"I'll wait for the papers. They have to serve me," Latheefa told reporters after speaking at Bank Rakyat's Integrity Forum 2020 here on Tuesday (Jan 14).

She was responding to reports on Monday (Jan 14) that Najib will be initiating contempt proceedings against the MACC and Latheefa for releasing nine audio recordings, implicating the former premier and other high ranking officials.

On Jan 8, Latheefa released recordings of the private phone calls, said to have taken place between Jan 5,2016 to Jul 29,2016 in a press conference, alleging "criminal conspiracy at the highest level".

Najib's lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah then told the press that the MACC had committed sub judice and contempt of court by releasing the nine audio recordings.

Among other individuals which MACC identified in the audio recordings were former MACC chief Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, former Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, and Najib's former principal private secretary Tan Sri Shukry Mohd Salleh.

On Monday (Jan 13), Latheefa also claimed a “criminal plot” to besmirch her reputation had emerged, following the commission’s disclosure of the telephone recordings.

Latheefa said she will be leaving matters in the hands of the police, after a police report was lodged against the individuals who have allegedly plotted to tarnish her reputation.

"My officer has given info to the police, her statement has been recorded so we leave it to the police to sort it out.

"Unfortunately, I can't reveal it (the plot). It's a plot to tarnish my reputation, the issue is not (just) about the photo per se," she said.

The report was lodged by the anti-graft chief's special legal officer, Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif, at Putrajaya police headquarters at 10.30am on Tuesday (Jan 14).

Sasha Lyna said she had also handed over evidence, as well as the identity of the individuals whom the MACC believe were behind the "criminal plot".

She, however, declined to name the persons and the evidence that were handed over to police.