KUALA LUMPUR – Law firm Rosli Dahlan Saravana (RDS) has assured that none of its clients’ documents were seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) during a raid on its premises yesterday.
In a statement today, the firm said that laws under the MACC Act 2009 prevent the seizure of client documents from a law office.
“On Friday, 12 MACC officers came to our office and demanded to search our office premises and seize documents.
“We have informed the MACC officers and wish to reiterate the legal sanctity of a law office where client’s documents are legally privileged and cannot be seized by the MACC by reason of Section 56 of the MACC Act 2009.
“Section 46 clearly recognises the legal inviolability of privileged information or communication. Accordingly, the MACC officers had no access to any of our client’s documents,” the law firm said.
The legislation referenced states that notwithstanding any other written law, a judge of the high court may, on an application being made to him in relation to an investigation into any offence under the act, order an advocate and solicitor to disclose available information relating to a property liable to seizure under the act.
It also states that legal representatives are not required to comply with the order to the extent that such compliance would disclose any privileged information or communication that came to his knowledge for the purpose of any pending proceedings.
The law firm added that it is committed to prevent any form of abuse, exploitation or coercion by any authority in the course of its services for clients, saying: “The rakyat has the right to legal representation and this universal principle cannot be ignored.
“Lawyers and law enforcement agencies are duty-bound to respect and uphold the law. We remain committed to this principle, and will continue to protect the legal rights and interests of all our clients – without fear or favour.”
Earlier today, it was reported that an RDS partnership note sighted by Scoop confirmed that the anti-graft body is investigating the law firm over corruption allegations involving the firm’s efforts to recover 1MDB funds from global financial firm Goldman Sachs.
It is believed that RDS is acting for Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in his defamation suit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. – October 7, 2023