Azeez lawyer disputes claim over lock-up attire, handcuffs

Datuk Amer Hamzah Arshad, the lawyer for former Lembaga Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, has rejected claims that his client chose to wear a purple lock-up shirt and handcuffs during court proceedings. According to Amer, police instructed Azeez to change into the lock-up attire shortly before his remand appearance.

The lawyer explained that Azeez was initially allowed to wear his normal clothing when leaving the police lock-up, but was subsequently instructed to change into the purple lock-up attire in accordance with police standard operating procedures. Amer emphasized that Azeez remained under police custody throughout and that the handcuffs were placed on him by police, not the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Following the remand proceedings, Azeez was taken directly from Sessions Court (Criminal) 2 to Sessions Court (Criminal) 9 for the MACC charge, during which he was still under police custody and did not have the opportunity to change out of the lock-up attire. Amer expressed surprise at MACC's statement suggesting Azeez had chosen or insisted on wearing the lock-up attire and handcuffs, asserting that he was under police custody and the lock-up attire and handcuffs were part of that custody.

The lawyer dismissed any claims of Azeez voluntarily choosing to appear in that manner, stating it gave a misleading impression of the circumstances.