NOR AZIZ BIN MAT ISA (No. K/P: 680205-08-6509) SUN TEOH TIA (SAC), PENGERUSI LEMBAGA TATATERTIB POLIS DIRAJA MALAYSIA BUKIT AMAN & 6 LAGI

NOR AZIZ BIN MAT ISA (No. K/P: 680205-08-6509) SUN TEOH TIA (SAC), PENGERUSI LEMBAGA TATATERTIB POLIS DIRAJA MALAYSIA BUKIT AMAN & 6 LAGI

Absolute privilege for statements in a police report is confined to communications that are the first step in a bona fide criminal investigation or in connection with judicial proceedings; it does not extend to prevent disciplinary proceedings against the maker where the report was used for improper motives or to vent grievances rather than to initiate investigation, and therefore disciplinary action based on such a report is permissible.

Citation
01(f)-38-11/2019(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
Parties
Appellant: Nor Aziz bin Mat Isa; 1st Respondent (pengerusi Lembaga Tatatertib Polis Diraja Malaysia Bukit Aman): Sun Teoh Tia (SAC); 2nd Respondent (disciplinary Board): Lembaga Tatatertib Polis Diraja Malaysia Bukit Aman; 3rd Respondent (inspecting Officer): Wan Azahar bin Wan Idris (K/INSP); 4th Respondent (deputy Commander): Azizan bin Abu Taat (ACP); 5th Respondent (deputy Commander): Junaidi bin Haji Zakaria (ACP); 6th Respondent (inspector General of Police): Ketua Polis Negara; 7th Respondent (government): Kerajaan Malaysia
Court
f
Jurisdiction
Malaysia
Judgment Date
9 November 2020
Case Number
01(f)-38-11/2019(W) (Mahkamah Persekutuan)
Procedural Posture
Civil Appeal From Judicial Review of Disciplinary Dismissal / Federal Court Judgment on Leave Question Following High Court and Court of Appeal Decisions
Legal Topics
Absolute Privilege, Police Report, Judicial/quasi Judicial Proceedings, Public Policy, Disciplinary Proceedings
Source Language
Malay/English
Defamation Administrative Law Police Disciplinary Law Criminal Procedure Absolute Privilege Police Report Judicial/quasi Judicial Proceedings Public Policy +1 more

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Parties

Nor Aziz bin Mat Isa

Appellant

Sun Teoh Tia (SAC)

1st Respondent (pengerusi Lembaga Tatatertib Polis Diraja Malaysia Bukit Aman)

Lembaga Tatatertib Polis Diraja Malaysia Bukit Aman

2nd Respondent (disciplinary Board)

Wan Azahar bin Wan Idris (K/INSP)

3rd Respondent (inspecting Officer)

Azizan bin Abu Taat (ACP)

4th Respondent (deputy Commander)

Junaidi bin Haji Zakaria (ACP)

5th Respondent (deputy Commander)

Ketua Polis Negara

6th Respondent (inspector General of Police)

Kerajaan Malaysia

7th Respondent (government)

Procedural Posture

Civil Appeal From Judicial Review of Disciplinary Dismissal / Federal Court Judgment on Leave Question Following High Court and Court of Appeal Decisions

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether absolute privilege attaches to statements in a police report under s.107 CPC for the purpose of shielding the maker from disciplinary proceedings
  2. 2 Whether a police report that is not supplied to initiate a criminal investigation but is used to vent grievance remains protected by absolute privilege

Ratio Decidendi

Absolute privilege for statements in a police report is confined to communications that are the first step in a bona fide criminal investigation or in connection with judicial proceedings; it does not extend to prevent disciplinary proceedings against the maker where the report was used for improper motives or to vent grievances rather than to initiate investigation, and therefore disciplinary action based on such a report is permissible.