Businessman Albert Tei has launched a civil suit against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), MACC Chief Commissioner Azam Baki, and the government.
He claims they forced him to wear an orange lock-up shirt during investigation.
Tei filed the suit at Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday, January 7.
Questioning Legal Basis
His lawyer, N. Surendran, challenged the requirement for investigation subjects to don lock-up attire.
Widely circulated photos of Tei created a guilty impression before trial, Surendran said.
Tei seeks a court declaration of unconstitutionality plus damages for assessment.
Even as a former MP eight or nine years back, Surendran raised this: innocence holds until court proof.
No Malaysian law mandates orange lock-up shirts for arrested persons under probe, including civilians.
Public Parading and Prejudice
Such images spread online, in media, and on TV. What if courts acquit them later?
Can lost dignity return? No laws permit this, he stressed.
Comments followed mention of Tei’s corruption case tied to former prime minister’s political secretary Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.
Tei vowed more suits, alleging handcuffing, parading in orange “lock-up” T-shirt to multiple spots.
Dressed alike, he faced public gaze everywhere.
MACC aimed to bias public views deliberately, he charged.
Allegations of Mental Abuse
The agency sought to break him mentally and sap resolve, Tei alleged.
He warned Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Azam they misjudged his resolve in this fight.
I will not yield, said Tei, positioning himself as victim and whistleblower in scandals with power players.
Why spare high-profiles like former prime minister Najib Razak, his wife, and others from same attire? Double standards, he queried.
Challenging MACC Practices
MACC prejudged guilt pre-court, Tei accused, urging legal justification and acquittal stats for orange-shirted arrestees.
To rally support, he bought the shirt online, launched a social media page with his photo in it, dubbing it Albert Tei Reformati.
