Another court case...

“A woman is like a tea bag: you cannot tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water...” - Nancy Reagan

Yesterday in Shah Alam court was a waste of my precious time.

Today I was in court again. First half of the morning was spent in the witness room killing time chit-chatting with the IO. I was called to testify at 11.00 am.

The session with the DPP was smooth sailing and I was confident in answering questions. I was a little cautious when being crossed by the defense lawyer. I answered frankly and truthfully of course. At times we argued. Sometimes we had it out over the most ridiculous petty things. I remember getting hot under the collar a few times with questions which demand only a yes or no answers whereas I was ready to volunteer a lengthy, clearer explanations. Without as much as a flinch, I’d have leaped into an argument and crawled over some nerves. But, unfortunately, I never had those opportunities.

By 1.00pm I was released. And I celebrated with a hearty lunch with a friend...

Another court case...

"Never tell your problems to anyone... 20% don't care and the other 80% are glad you have them..." - Lou Holtz

I was again subpoenaed...

The last time I attended court for the same case was in May 2011. After the case was mentioned, it was postponed for quite a long time. I have almost forgotten about the case. Early last week when I received a call from my former work place requesting for a meeting, I know that I will be called to court again anytime soon.

I need to start looking for my black briefcase and study my notes...

A call on Valentine Day...

"By working faithfully eight hours a day I eventually retired and get to be my own boss and work twenty-four hours a day..."

It's Valentine Day and I was still in deep slumber when a persistent ringing tone jolted me from my dream. 

And I was surprised that it was the Assistant Governor calling. After brief pleasantries, we had a long serious conversation. It was about the up-coming court proceedings and everyone is anxious to refresh facts of the case.

Knowing that I'll be back in KL next week, the secretary had arranged a working lunch with the Assistant Governor together with my ex-boss and ex-colleagues at the 19th floor. It has been quite a while since I donned my working attire and carry my heavy black briefcase.

And it feels good to be in deep discussion and activate my brain power again after a long hiatus...

No sense of order…

"The price one pays for pursuing any profession, is an intimate knowledge of its ugly side. What is needed is a sense of order and purpose..."

(Another case, another episode)

I woke up earlier than usual that morning. The sun had just slipped above the horizon, leaving the sky the color of fire when I drove out of the parking lot of my Putramas apartment.

The meeting with the lawyers was brief. By now the lawyers would have memorized the details and would have been able to prepare the affidavit for me to sign. Without proper documentations my memory is blank. If I could induce a complete enough silence in my conscious mind, it is possible that a memory lost would appear to fill the space. To make things worse, my subpoena could not be located. And how am I to attend the court case without that piece of blue paper.

Anger is an indulgence I could not afford now...

A bad hair day…

"Life craziness has thrown a curve ball to my routine..."

I may always feel bad about myself in one way or the other. I often have a negative picture of myself and what I can achieve. The past 2 days I was drilled and grilled in court as if I was the accused instead of the witness. But I stood strong in the witness dock and pride myself in answering all questions calmly.

Today it was a different ball game altogether when it came to my turn to be crossed. The defense counselor cum psychoanalyst went all out to discredit me with questions way out of context, I was near to giving him a piece of my mind and get me charged for contempt of court. If not for the judge’s soothing reprimanding voice that held my retaliation at bay. My blood was nearly reaching boiling point at one point of time. I hate it when people look at me and want what they want me to be instead of what I actually am.

Sure, there are worse things in life, but let's face it. I am having a bad hair day today, literally.

Perak - Another subpoena in Ipoh…

“He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left...”

Tuesday was also packed with meetings in the office. After office, packed some clothes and drove to Ipoh and checked in Syuen Hotel . Next day, in the Ipoh Magistrate Court I was again seated in the kandang saksi to testify and will be called again in July for cross examination...

Telling moments...

“If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you...” - Oscar Wilde

(Sandwiched between two convicts)

I got to get out of this clutter and find simplicity...

The weekend was spent painting the chalet and bush-cutting the fences. Me doing the painting and hubby doing the bush-cutting, of course. With both of us nursing our back pain at end of day, we decided to have early dinner at the famous mee bandung restaurant. Early next day we went to see mak and abah before we drove back to KL. When we reached our apartment, we only had time to shower and packed our bag and again hit the road to Ipoh as I need to be present at the Magistrate court.

Many roads were closed in Ipoh, partly because of Thaipusam but mainly because of the recent political turmoil. The high court was swarmed with policemen and reporters. Even the session court was packed with people. I was seated in the worst seat next to the orang kena tuduh (OKT) as the court room was filled to the brim. When the DPP showed me a thumb-down signal, I suspected that my case is to be postponed again. I was disappointed for I have traveled far and felt so tired, even a veteran like the defense counsel looked taxed.

While waiting for my case to be mentioned, I sat quietly watching the court proceedings, trying to stay alert to capture telling moments - when people show emotions, or when witnesses recount a critical detail or reenact an event. I recalled that during emotional moments of the trial, the lady Magistrate would appear stoic. At other times, even laugh with the attorneys and OKTs - an image not seen by many outside the courtroom.

Only much later, we were informed that my case was postponed to another date.

Court case @ Ipoh...

“And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it's the life in your years…” - Abraham Lincoln

(Majestic Station Hotel, Ipoh)

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the daily mundane chores.

I was subpoenaed again. We decided to drive after office. Reached Ipoh and checked-in Majestic Station Hotel. It is a no-star hotel with basic amenities. But it was next to the court. Next day we walked to the court but there was a rehearsal for the Merdeka celebration and the road was blocked.

The court room was packed but by 10.30 a.m. everyone was asked to move to another court room as the Magistrate was caught in the traffic jam. My case was again postponed to a later date, yet to be fixed.

(National day parade from the court room)

I called my secretary to book Penang’s Sea Range apartment and we drove to Penang for a restful relaxing week end.

Perak - Court Case @ Kampar...

"Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers..."

Dear hubby was quite free and decided to come along with me to Kampar.

The court was already full and some need to stay under a gazebo to keep cool. I am with some others in the bilik saksi which is very stuffy with minimal ventilation. They cleared simple cases first and had to postpone my case to tomorrow as the DPP was also handling a case in Ipoh at the same time. We decided not to stay in the hotel in Kampar and drove back.

Next day the hearing started late and I took the stand at 11.00 a.m. and was only released at 4.30 p.m. When the defense lawyer requested to be excused early, it displeased every one else and a call for a reprimand from the Magistrate. I will be called again in October after raya.

I need a lawyer!

“How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live...” - Henry David Thoreau

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes.

Last week when I received the subpoena for a court case in Ipoh, I was contemplating whether to drive the night before or start from home very early in the morning on the trial day. Because of my poor night vision, I decided on the later.

So this morning, the alarm woke me up at 5.30 a.m. I started my driving just after 6.00 and had planned my journey well. As this was my first time to Ipoh on my own, I was equipped with the map printed and the route to the Ipoh Magistrate Court marked and highlighted for easy navigation.

I was driving within speed limit. I was doing 100 – 110km/hr all the way to Ipoh. Had ample time to stop at Tapah R&R for breakfast. I arrived safely, parked my car at the Railway Station, studied the case and familiarized the facts and just before 9.00 a.m. I walked leisurely to the court.

I registered my presence and was seated between 2 big bouncers at the last row in the cramped court room, listened to minor offenses being mentioned, postponed or dismissed. My case was mentioned just after recess. The date of the trial was fixed in April and all witnesses will be subpoenaed again.

When I retrieved my car, there was a familiar notice stuck on my windscreen – Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh Kod Kesalahan 33 – gagal mempamer kupon letak kereta! Arrrggh…

I was not in a good mood. I was doing more than 130km/hr on my journey back to KL and was stopped at a police road-block right after Tapah R&R and given a ticket for speeding. Arrrggh again…..

I can either pay the fines or I can contest. I really need a lawyer!

Charged on Bail...

“I regret that it takes a life to learn how to live…” - Jonathan Safran Foer

(OKT - Orang Kena Tuduh)

This is my second subpoena to the court in Shah Alam. The first was in May this year.

I was early and the court room was packed. But my IO was no where to be seen. It is learnt that he knew before hand that the case would be postponed and has taken leave the whole week for the Raya celebration. I saw a few familiar faces, celebrities and all. Even the accused for my case was there with his entourage but I learned that his lawyer was absent too. I decided to wait for the case to be mentioned and the postponement to be announced before I left court.

It was already noon when I arrived at the apartment. I called the office to take time off and slept on the sofa the whole afternoon.

Summons to a witness...

“Keep in mind that people change, but the past doesn't…” - Becca Fitzpatrick

'

In the mid-eighties, when I was still a junior officer in my old department, I was often called to the court to be the expert witness on exchange rates. I was frequented by officers from the police department and sometimes, from the Jabatan Kastam to get a statement from me by virtue of my position as the officer in-charge. My boss then, being quite a man of the nation now, in his own manner and candor would pass all cases to me.

‘ you’re the expert in foreign exchange, mesti boleh jawab soalan2 lawyer tu. Kalau tak boleh jawab, kelentong je… he he…’

The first time I stood in the ‘kandang saksi’ I was shivering from head to toes and couldn’t comprehend what had been asked. I mumbled my answers and all I heard towards the end of my testimonial was, ‘Puan telah dibebaskan dari menjadi saksi….’ I was overladen with gratitude, as if I was the accused being freed of all charges, and muttering expression of thanks in at least several languages to the judge.

The story did not just end there. In my present department I was often subpoenaed as an expert witness – incidentally, nothing to do with exchange rates any more. The past two weeks in a row, I have been traveling up and down the hi-way, sometimes to Bentong and at times to Kuala Kubu Baru to attend the court cases. And just now my officer handed me the familiar blue slip of paper and cheekily said:

‘Puan telah disaman supaya hadir di hadapan Mahkamah Majistret di Tapah pada sekian-sekian haribulan he he…’

Such is the not so straightforward nature of the physical and psychological make-up of my job.

Seekor kerbau membawa lumpur…

"When you are right, no one remembers; when you are wrong, no one forgets..." - Irish proverb 

(A Malay proverb: Seekor Kerbau membawa lumpur)

If I can endure the worst, I can withstand any thing.

For four days my officers and I were subjected to a grueling inquiry by the authorities following in-depth investigation on one of our contractors. Unlike others, who have to meet up with the investigation officers either at Bukit Aman or Bukit Perdana, I was lucky to be interviewed at one of the small meeting rooms, secluded and away from the disturbance of calls or meetings. A privilege extended to only a selected few.

The interview room, without any windows, is confined and disturbingly suffocating. I was usually not claustrophobic but with the statement taken ala interrogating style, made me went out of the room more often than necessary. The men were luckier as they were allowed smoking breaks at regular intervals. My breaks were limited to going to the wash room and stretching tired back-bones and knotted ligaments.

It is rather strange that many other officers from other departments – more high ranking and with respectable posts have yet to be called to give statements. With the recording of statements, rims of Xerox documents were filed and kept as evidence in case we were later called as witnesses. Policies and procedures were checked again and again to look for loop-holes and inconsistencies. It is hoped that lessons can be learnt from these episodes. It is only the beginning and we were bracing for the worst. The case may even get out of hand if not handled professionally.

If only more people in this world, particularly among the smart-assed, care to cultivate their sense of responsibilities, the world will be a much happier place for us all…

The Bentong Court Case...

"They say we learn more from losing than from winning..."

Any of you who have been to a court of law, be it high, middle or low – either as plaintiff or respondent, accused person, witness or defendant, learned lawyer or nosy observer – would not have failed to notice that the preliminaries are often long winded and not in any way related to the case.

And today I was subjected to these long winded preliminaries when I attended the court case in Bentong as an expert witness. After the oath or rather declaration to speak ‘the whole truth and nothing but the truth’, I gave my testimonials and was cross-examined by the Counsel. What irritated me most was when I have to repeat my statement every time before he could comprehend it completely. Even His Lordship took pity on me and a few times stopped the Counsel from asking the same questions over and over again. Either he’s hard of hearing or he was not paying attention. The statement which normally take an hour or two, lasted the whole morning and the court has to adjourn for lunch break.

I was lucky that I was seated in the witness box when I presented my analysis, whereas, the accused would be all the time standing in his ‘kandang’ and perspiring on his feet. Fancy the physical strain, especially on the calf muscles and the mental agony, particularly while at the tender mercies of the Counsel.

The drive back to KL was uninteresting and a few times I nearly dozed off at the steering wheel.

Priory of Sion...

“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom…” - Lao Tzu

(My new collection of Dan Brown's book)

I arrived at the Mahkamah Mejistret Bentong very early this morning. When the Investigation Officer came we were informed that the case is postponed to a later date. The magistrate has conveniently called in sick. Dr. Hasnah and En. Azman from SIRIM were lucky as they were informed earlier this morning on their way to Bentong, and had turned back just in time. This will be the second time the case is postponed. The first time was on the 16th May where we were made to wait until noon before we knew that there will be no hearing for the case. I have wasted ½ of my day.

Hubby came home early. When I reached home, father and daughter were napping on the sofa while the TV was blaring loud. Tonight we had dinner at Laksa Shack and decided to watch the Da Vinci Code at 1-Utama. A stunning new thriller that will provoke much debate on Christianity, of secret societies and revelations on Da Vinci's penchant for hiding codes in his paintings.

I have read several of Dan Brown books and found them quite interesting.

Trengganu - Drugs and counterfeiters...

“Make voyages! Attempt them! There is nothing else...” - T. Williams

Last night when I was browsing through the report for the court case I realized that they have omitted the Authority Letter. Called the officer to fax me the document first thing in the morning.

After breakfast, took a cab to the Magistrate Court. KT branch is just next door so I dropped by to check on my fax. At the court met with the IO and some other witnesses. While comparing notes I found out that the young guy from Kuantan and his friend were Ja’s schoolmates in Institute Hafiz in Klang. What a small world. I told them about Ja.

The case which was supposed to be heard at 8.30 a.m. started quite late. I was finally called to testify as expert witness and was cross-examined for nearly 1½ hours. Overall, the session was a good one.

After I was released of my duty, I walked to KT branch and met with the Branch Manager who later sent me back to the hotel. I gave excuses to escape having lunch with him and ended up having fish n chips by myself.

My flight is @ 1755 and I have ample time to take a much needed nap. The flight to KL was uneventful. By the time I reached the apartment, Iwan and Sara were already home. Had nasi lemak for dinner with the kids.

Postponed court case...

“Sometimes things fall apart so that better things can fall together…”- Marilyn Monroe

A week ago I was again subpoenaed to the court as expert witness. This time at the Mahkamah Mejistret Kuala Kubu Baru. I was ready early this morning and while drinking a hot cup of milo, I looked through the thick reports prepared by my staff on the case.

Left the apartment before 7 a.m. and drove to KKB via Rawang road. I was met by one of my officer and we went to have breakfast of roti canai and teh tarik. The court session started late and after a few cases were read, we were informed by the police officer that our case is postponed to another date as the suspect has earlier called in sick. A typical ploy to delay proceedings.

We drove back to office just in time for our quarterly briefing to the DG. All departments briefed on 2005 achievements and initiatives for 2006 and some initiatives were discussed in great length. Only 5 departments completed the briefing inclusive ours. The rest have to arrange another sitting with the DG.

Criminal Procedure Code...

“It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart...” - Suzanne Collin

(Understanding my rights)

I received the subpoena a few weeks back and nearly forgotten about it until Radzuan reminded me to be at the Mahkamah Majistret Bentong at 8.30 a.m. to attend one court case where my attendance as Expert Witness is necessary. Late yesterday evening the Investigating Officer called to inform of possibility of postponement of the case but later informed that we may need to be there. Already, half a day wasted.

On the way back to office, detoured to Plaza Damas to visit my lawyer. I have engaged her a year back to apply for the discharge of my Taman Bidara Property from the Bank. Only now I am able to collect the original document title that has been duly registered in my name.

After office, went home early, feeling tired and sleepy. Earlier, Iwan went to fetch Ella at Duta bus station and later had dinner before coming home. They are going to Pulau Tioman tomorrow. Sara was at home till Wednesday as UIA is in a state of crisis – no water supply. Lazy to go out, Sara and I had egg sandwich for dinner and watched movie on Astro.

The Runaway witness...

“The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me...” - Ayn Rand

Two weeks ago I was subpoenaed by the Magistrate Court to be an expert witness to counterfeiting case.

And today, as early at 8.30 a.m., I presented myself to the police officer in-charge. The last time I went to court, I had to sit in the cramped witness room before being called to the witness stand. This time I asked permission to sit in the courtroom throughout the session. I was ready to give my expert opinion if required by the presiding Magistrate or the Prosecution Officer. The case was mentioned at 11 a.m. I was not called to testify as the accused decided to plead guilty.

I considered the case as closed. What a waste of precious time.