Why was senior lawyer Haniff Khatri fined RM30,000 by the Federal Court?

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Senior Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Fined RM30,000 for Contempt of Court

Senior lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla was fined RM30,000 by the Federal Court for contempt of court due to disrespectful conduct towards the apex court during a property dispute case. The court ordered that in default of payment, he would serve one month in jail and also pay RM10,000 in costs. This action stemmed from legal proceedings related to property agreements in Ipoh, Perak, which the Federal Court had previously ruled null and void.
Disrespectful Conduct Towards the Federal Court

The contempt of court charge against Mohamed Haniff Khatri, a senior member of the Bar and an officer of the court, was specifically for his disrespectful behaviour directed at the Federal Court. This occurred within the context of a property dispute where the Federal Court had, on June 20, 2017, allowed an appeal by Lim Peek Hoe and Ling Boon Huat. This decision reinstated a High Court ruling that declared sale and purchase agreements, along with related tenancy agreements and property transfers, null and void, ordering Golden Star and three partners to return the properties within 60 days.
Previous Legal Reviews Dismissed

Mohamed Haniff Khatri was appointed to represent the trio involved in the property dispute after their initial legal challenges. He subsequently filed two review applications of the Federal Court’s decision. Both of these review applications were dismissed by the court in May 2019, further complicating the legal standing of his clients and the underlying dispute.
Remorse and Apology Considered

While acknowledging Mohamed Haniff Khatri's unequivocal and unconditional apology, which the court found to be genuinely remorseful, the Federal Court also took into account the timing of this apology. It was noted that the apology was only offered after he had been found guilty of contempt. This consideration played a role in the court's final sentencing, alongside the gravity of the offence committed against the highest court in the land.

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Why was senior lawyer Haniff Khatri fined RM30,000 by the Federal Court?

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