Abdul Gani Patail
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri Abdul Gani bin Patail (born October 6, 1955) is a Malaysian prosecutor
. He is the current Attorney General of Malaysia
.
Abdul Gani was the lead prosecutor in former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
's sodomy trial
of 1998.
(Hons) degree from the University of Malaya
in 1979. He began his legal career the following year as a Deputy Public Prosecutor (the title for a prosecuting officer in Malaysia) in Kota Kinabalu
, Sabah
. In 1985, he was promoted to Senior Federal Counsel for Sabah.
In January 1994, Abdul Gani moved to the Attorney General's Chambers in Kuala Lumpur
. There he was appointed Head of the Prosecution Division (1994 and again in 2000), Head of the Advisory and International Division (1995) and Commissioner of Law Revision (1997).
On January 1, 2002, he was appointed Attorney General of Malaysia.
during Anwar's corruption and sodomy trial of 1998
. Anwar was sentenced to a combined 15 years in prison for corruption and sodomy in April 1999 and August 2000 respectively. The sodomy conviction was overturned in 2004 by the Federal Court
.
Anwar has personally accused Abdul Gani and then Assistant Commissioner of Police Musa Hassan
of fabricating evidence against him during the trial, in particular introducing the medical report that suggested Anwar's black-eye sustained from beatings in prison were self-inflicted. His claims have been backed by former police officer Mat Zain Ibrahim who investigated the 'black eye' incident.
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
. He is the current Attorney General of Malaysia
Attorney General of Malaysia
The Attorney General of Malaysia, also referred to as the A-G , is the principal legal adviser to the Government of Malaysia. The Attorney General is also the highest ranking public prosecutor in the country and is also known as the Public Prosecutor, or simply PP. The powers with regards to...
.
Abdul Gani was the lead prosecutor in former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
's sodomy trial
Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trials
The Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trials are a source of considerable political controversy in Malaysia. The first trial was held in 1998, and resulted in former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim being convicted, and given a nine-year prison sentence. This verdict was overturned in 2004, resulting in...
of 1998.
Background
Abdul Gani Patail graduated with a third class Bachelor of LawsBachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(Hons) degree from the University of Malaya
University of Malaya
The University of Malaya is located on a campus near the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and is the oldest university in Malaysia. It was founded in 1905 as a public-funded tertiary institution...
in 1979. He began his legal career the following year as a Deputy Public Prosecutor (the title for a prosecuting officer in Malaysia) in Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
, Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
. In 1985, he was promoted to Senior Federal Counsel for Sabah.
In January 1994, Abdul Gani moved to the Attorney General's Chambers in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. There he was appointed Head of the Prosecution Division (1994 and again in 2000), Head of the Advisory and International Division (1995) and Commissioner of Law Revision (1997).
On January 1, 2002, he was appointed Attorney General of Malaysia.
Anwar sodomy trial
It was during his time as Commissioner of Law Revision that Abdul Gani was chosen to lead the prosecution against Anwar IbrahimAnwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
during Anwar's corruption and sodomy trial of 1998
Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trials
The Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trials are a source of considerable political controversy in Malaysia. The first trial was held in 1998, and resulted in former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim being convicted, and given a nine-year prison sentence. This verdict was overturned in 2004, resulting in...
. Anwar was sentenced to a combined 15 years in prison for corruption and sodomy in April 1999 and August 2000 respectively. The sodomy conviction was overturned in 2004 by the Federal Court
Federal Court of Malaysia
The Federal Court of Malaysia is the highest court and the final appellate court in Malaysia. It is housed in the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya...
.
Anwar has personally accused Abdul Gani and then Assistant Commissioner of Police Musa Hassan
Musa Hassan
Tan Sri Musa Hassan is former Malaysia's Inspector-General of Police. He has served with the Royal Malaysian Police for 41 years.- Inspector-General of Police :...
of fabricating evidence against him during the trial, in particular introducing the medical report that suggested Anwar's black-eye sustained from beatings in prison were self-inflicted. His claims have been backed by former police officer Mat Zain Ibrahim who investigated the 'black eye' incident.