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November 7, 2004

30 Justices of peace caught for criminal activities

They are supposed to be highly reputable community leaders but more than 30 Justices of the Peace (JP) in Malaysia have been detained in the past year for alleged involvement in criminal activities. The number prompted the Attorney-General's Chambers, which has the final say on who can be a JP, to consider stopping the appointment of these people as second-class magistrates.

Sources said the JPs who were arrested included at least nine detained to assist police investigations into their alleged involvement in loan-shark activities. JPs are supposed to be highly reputable community leaders,' one source said. 'Their appointment is not an award but a trust that carries with it certain legal powers and responsibilities. How are they supposed to be appointed second-class magistrates if they are criminals themselves"?

'The Attorney-General's Chambers and relevant authorities should look into this matter and find a solution.' JPs who are second-class magistrates can hear cases referred to the traffic tribunal and those involving minor criminal offences. They can impose penalties for offences punishable by fines. Currently, there are about 3,000 JPs in Malaysia given the title by the Attorney-General's Chambers, based on the recommendations made by national leaders.

The Penang president of the Council of the Justices of Peace, Datuk Sonny Soon Ewe Yin, was sad that more JPs were involved in 'unhealthy' activities.

But he did not blame the Attorney-General's Chambers for considering the move to stop the appointments of JPs as magistrates. 'The JPs have themselves to blame,' he said, adding that he was glad no JP in Penang was involved in any 'unhealthy' activity.

The move being considered by the Attorney-General's Chambers was opposed by a member of Justices of the Peace Council. He said the Attorney-General could scrutinise the background of potential JPs to make sure they did not have criminal records before they were appointed as magistrates. 'Just because of a few rotten apples, it is not fair that other JPs in Malaysia cannot be appointed as magistrates,' he said. He also stressed that only the names of qualified individuals were submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers for consideration.

Source: Asia News Network.