George Town, June 14 – High Court Judge Datuk Zamani Abdul Rahim recused himself from hearing the appeal from a quantity surveyor who was found guilty for flashing obscene hand gestures at the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah and a police officer last February.
Zamani made the decision after granting the application filed by appellant Leong Pei Koe’s counsel R.S.N Rayer requesting the judge to withdraw himself from hearing the case.
In the application, Rayer said Zamani had made a prejudicial statement in connection with the case when the appeal was read before him on May 15.
“After reading the affidavit, I agree with all matters stated in the appellant’s notice. I hereby withdraw myself from hearing the appeal and hence, order for another Penang High Court judge to hear the appeal,” he said, adding that the new date for the hearing would also be set by the court soon.
On March 7, Leong filed an appeal against the conviction, RM8,000 fine and one month’s jail term handed down by the Balik Pulau Magistrate Court here on Feb 13.
The court handed down the sentence after he pleaded guilty to two counts of flashing obscene hand gesture at Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah and at a policeman ASP Mohamad Fakhrudin Abdul Hamid while the car carrying her was passing the departure hall of the Bayan Lepas International Airport at 11.50am on Feb 11.
– BERNAMA
