KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 — Two DAP lawmakers requested today the Bar Council investigate veteran lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah for allegedly sharing confidential information related to Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial at a recent forum.

Thomas Su Keong Siong and Lim Lip Eng, who are also lawyers, said it was not proper conduct for a lawyer to publicly reveal evidence that was given “in-camera” or privately before a judge and lawyers.

“Disclosing evidence (from an) in-camera (hearing) is not appropriate,” Su, who is Ipoh Timur MP, told journalists after submitting their request to the Bar Council.

They claimed that Shafee had acted in contempt of court by disclosing in-camera evidence to the public, including details of alleged sexual acts between Anwar and Saiful.

“As a prosecutor Shafee should know better,” Su told the Malay Mail Online.

“He should know what can be said and what can’t.”

He said that Shafee’s conduct had implications not just for Anwar’s case, but for “the whole legal process.”

“If he’s allowed to disclose evidence that was given in-camera, then the whole purpose of giving evidence in-camera is (undermined).”

Both Su and Lim called on the Bar Council to consider this case carefully and to provide clarification “as a future guide for the members of the Bar.”

The duo said that appropriate action should be taken if Shafee is found guilty of misconduct.

They referred to Section 94 of the Legal Profession Act 1976, which gives the Bar Council’s disciplinary board the power to suspend or disbar any lawyer who commits an act of “grave impropriety” or one that breaches professional rules.

Lim, who is also Segambut MP, also criticised Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for saying yesterday that it was Shafee’s right to participate in such fora after the case.

“I strongly disagree with the government’s stand and with the deputy prime minister’s statement,” Lim said.

Lim gave the example of a rape trial involving a minor conducted in-camera in consideration for the victim, saying such testimony could be used later.

At a forum organised by Umno Youth last week, Shafee, who was appointed as prosecutor under fiat in Anwar’s trial, had shared a detailed account of the testimony of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan — the man who claimed he was sodomised by Anwar while serving as the latter’s aide.

Shafee also accused the Bar Council of being a “political animal” and urged the government to take “drastic action” to neutralise its alleged bias towards the opposition.