In a shocking allegation, Court of Appeal Judge Hamid Sultan Abu Backer has claimed that certain members of the judiciary have been aiding private parties to defraud public funds.

He mentioned this in an affidavit filed today supporting lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo's application to declare that the chief justice failed to defend the integrity and credibility of the judiciary over two alleged incidences of judicial interference.

Hamid claimed the act of defrauding was done through nominees of politicians creating contracts with the government.

Once the government reneges on the contract, he alleged, the private parties would take the government to court in order to claim compensation.

"I will give an example. The government will enter into a contract with a political nominee with no intention of honouring it.

"Subsequently, the government will terminate the contract and the nominee will sue the government for breach of contract.

"The government may record a consent judgment accepting liability and agreeing to assess damages.

"This modus operandi was going on directly to deprive the exchequer by false claims," he claimed.

Hamid, who is still a sitting judge, repeatedly stressed the need for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to look into this matter...