1. Powerof PublicProsecution
Article 145 (3) Federal constitution –attorneygeneral (AG) shallhave powertoexercise athisdiscretion
to institute,conduct,ordiscontinue anyproceedingforanoffence
S376 (1) CPC – AG shall be the PP and have control anddirectionof all criminal proceedings
S376 (2) CPC – The SolicitorGeneral (SG) shall have all the powerof a Deputypublicprosecutor(DPP)
and shall act as PPin the case of absentor inabilitytoactof the AG
LeongKokHuat v PP- the powerof SG to act inabsence of AG was challenge,itwasheldthatthe word
absence connotesnotonlyphysical butalsoonleave oroutstation
S376 (3),(3A) –(Appointmentof Person)PPmayappointproperandfitpersontobe DPPand APP.They
shall be underthe general control anddirectionof PP
Personal powerof PP
i) S418A CPC – to issue certificate transfercasesfromsubordinate courtstothe Highcourt
ii) S68 (2) CPC – any mattersconcerningthe judge/magistrate whichamounttocriminal intimidationor
defamation
iii) S50 CJA – give notice of appeal againstacquittal
iv) S66 CJA – referquestionof lawtothe Federal Court
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Institutionof Proceeding
PPv Manager, MBF buildingservice –ordinarymeaning‘to institute’meanstocommence
Whenproceedingsare instituted
i) Whenthe accused isarrested
Tan Mee Kongand Re Kah Wai – The court heldthatfor copyrightcases,proceedingare institutedwhen
the accusedis arrested
ii) Whenthe accusediscalledto pleadguilty
R v ElliotandPerumahanvPP – Proceedingare institutedwhenthe accusedpersonpleadtothe charges
Kyohei Hosai vPP,PP v Tohabin Myusuf suppoerthe 2nd
view
PPdiscretiontoinstitute proeedings
Article 145 (3) wide discretionarypower forPPto institute proceeding,S376CPC
2. Long BinSamat v PP – the PP had the discretiontopreferwhatevercharge be deemedfitandthe court
couldnot interfere withthe exercise of hisdiscretion
JohnsonTan Han Sengv PP- PPhas the discretiontopreferwhichcharges
SukmaDarmawan v KetuapengarahpenjaraMalaysia – PPhas the discretiontopreferwhere tocharge
underarticle 145 (3) FC,in otherwordsarticle 145 (3) FC prevail overArticle 121FC
Requirementof ConsentandSanctionof PP
If there is noevidence of some formof authorizationunderarticle 145 (3) FC to institute criminal
proceedings,otherthanAG personallyappears,he hasnoevidence basistoholdthe criminal
proceedingisproperlyinstituted.( institute proceedingmaybe manifestedbyconsentorsanction)
Distinctionbetweensanctionandconsent
Abdul hamidvPP – Consentismore seriousthansanctioninnature and requireddeepconsideration
Requirementof consent
i) S177A CPC – an offence tobe triedbythe highcourt shall not institute exceptwiththe PPconsent
ii) S39B DDA 1952 – offence fordrugtraffickingexceptwiththe consentof PP
iii) S80 ISA 1960 – anyoffence inthisact punishable withimprisonmentof 7yearsor more shall notbe
institute exceptwiththe consentof PP
PPv Oie Hee Koi – the presence of DPPmeansimpliedconsentof the PP
JohsonTan Han Sengv PP – DPP couldgive consentbecause he isthe alteregoof the PP
Must consentbe in writing?
i) Consentmaybe oral if not statedbystatue and vice versa
Jamali binAdnanv PP
Goh KeatPemgv PP – of the state specificstate thatconsentof the PP mustbe in writing,thenitmust
be in writingandthe doctrine of alteregohas no application
Effectwhere noconsentof PP isobtain: the charge isillegal and the trial will be anullity.Itisnotcurabe
underS422 CPC: ChuaChor Kian
Whensanctionisrequired?
S129 CPC( offence relatingtopublicservant,givingfalseevidence,documentsandforging), S130 CPC
3. Effectof lack of consent – renderthe trial a nullity(HassanbIsahak)
JoginderSingh –itisan irregularitiesandcurable underS422 CPC
