KUALA LUMPUR: As gavels struck in Malaysia's courtrooms in 2024, the year unfolded with gripping legal battles, shocking revelations and unprecedented decisions that captured the nation's attention.
The New Straits Times reviews the court cases that dominated headlines this year.
January
In January, former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and his wife, Toh Puan Nai'mah Abdul Khalid, are charged with failing to comply with a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) notice to declare their assets. They plead not guilty. However, Daim is acquitted of all charges following his death in November.
February
In a landmark decision, the Federal Court rules that 16 provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code Enactment are unconstitutional. It says state legislative bodies cannot enact laws beyond the State List in the Federal Constitution
In a separate case, the Court of Appeal dismisses the prosecution's appeal against the acquittal of former Cradle Fund chief executive officer Nazrin Hassan's wife, Samirah Muzaffar, and two teenagers over his death.
March
The Court of Appeal, in a majority decision, upholds former Tronoh assemblyman Paul Yong's conviction for raping his Indonesian maid in 2019. However, the court reduces his jail sentence from 13 years to eight years.
The month also saw KK Super Mart founder and group executive chairman Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan being charged with intentionally wounding the religious feelings of Muslims with socks bearing the word "Allah".
Also charged is his wife, Datin Seri Loh Siew Mui. Both are acquitted in July, but the company was fined RM60,000.
April
Datuk Seri Najib Razak begins his legal challenge related to a supposed addendum order by former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, which he claims allows him to serve his remaining jail sentence under house arrest.
The High Court strikes out the former prime minister's application in July. The case is now at the Court of Appeal, pending a hearing on Jan 6 next year.
May
The Federal Court affirms that the three children of a Hindu mother, Loh Siew Hong, will remain non-Muslims. They had been unilaterally converted to Islam by their father.
June
The parents of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin, a 6-year-old autistic child who was murdered in Damansara Damai in December last year, are remanded for seven days. The boy's parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, faced charges of neglect.
In the same month, the High Court dismisses a RM100 million suit by kindergarten teacher M. Indira Gandhi against the inspector-general of police and the government for allegedly failing to arrest her ex-husband and return her daughter, who was abducted by him.
July
A six-year legal dispute over matrimonial property worth RM2.1 billion between Puan Sri Dr Kalsom Ismail, the widow of the late federal minister Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis, her four children and her mother-in-law ends after all parties agree to settle the claim case amicably at the Syariah High Court.
Separately, the Court of Appeal sentences six former Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia students to death for the murder of cadet officer Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain seven years ago.
August
The government is ordered to return 106.54ha of land dubbed "Duta Enclave" near Jalan Duta, home to several government complexes, to a private company.
September
Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown fails in her final bid to avoid paying RM300,000 for defaming Sultanah of Terengganu Sultanah Nur Zahirah.
October
Former lawyer Datuk N. Pathmanaban and his farmhand fail in their attempt to overturn their death penalty for the murder of cosmetics millionaire Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and her three aides in 2010.
In a unanimous decision, a three-member Federal Court bench led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat upholds the death sentence for the appellants.
In another high-profile murder case, former cop Azilah Hadri escapes the gallows after the Federal Court commutes his death sentence to 40 years' imprisonment and 12 strokes of the cane for murdering Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006.
Separately, Najib is ordered to enter his defence against charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion in 1Malaysia Development Bhd funds.
November
Corruption charges against Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his wife, Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad, are reinstated by the Court of Appeal.
In a civil case, former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is ordered to pay RM1.35 million in damages for defaming DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng over the revocation of Albukhary Foundation's tax exemption status.
Also, the Federal Court rules that CTOS Data Systems Sdn Bhd has the power to formulate its own credit score and dismisses a businesswoman's appeal to restore RM200,000 in damages for an inaccurate credit rating.
December
Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor is acquitted of all money laundering and tax evasion charges involving more than RM7 million after the High Court rules that the charges against her were illegal and flawed.
In the Court of Appeal, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is acquitted of 40 corruption charges linked to the Foreign Visa System after the Attorney-General's Chambers decides to withdraw its appeal against Zahid's acquittal.
Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is also acquitted and discharged of one sedition charge for allegedly uttering seditious remarks against the sultan of Selangor last year.
High Court judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin made the ruling after deputy public prosecutor Datuk Masri Mohd Daud said the prosecution wants to withdraw and discontinue the charge.