Monday 4 April 2011

Malaysia Positive Towards Plea Bargaining Implementation - Abdul Gani

By: Shuhaida Mohd Said

LANGKAWI, April 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is taking positive steps towards implementing the plea bargaining concept for criminal cases in the courts, said Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

He said the plea bargaining concept would expedite the disposal of criminal cases and reduce their backlog, while cutting down the court's time and expenses.

"The concept is being used in the United States and 90 per cent of backlog cases (there) have been resolved," he told reporters after attending the Fifth Annual Event of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore here Monday.

He said some lawyers might be worried over the implementation of the plea bargaining concept, but he believed it was something that must be implemented in the country.

About 150 participants, including officers from the AGC of Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore and led by their respective attorneys-general, are attending the four-day event.

Among others, the event is aimed at exchanging knowledge in law experiences.

The event also provides greater opportunities and platform for interaction to build upon the three countries' existing partnership links and fosters friendship and closer rapport amongst them.

Topics discussed during the event include 'Plea Bargaining and Sentence Bargaining' and 'Arbitration and Mediation as Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms'.

Earlier in his speech, Abdul Gani said the topics were not only timely but appropriate in meeting the ever-expanding legal landscape, while reminding that justice should not only be done but should be seen to be done.

"As much as we coveted speedy trials and swift case disposals, it is equally crucial to bear in mind that this should not be done at the expense of justice.

"The sanctity of justice should not be sacrificed in the name of numbers and statistics...postponement should not be discouraged but it should be denied on coherent reasons and grounds," he said.

Brunei Attorney-General Datin Paduka Hayati Md Salleh and Singapore Attorney-General Sundaresh Menon are also attending the event.

-- BERNAMA

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