ACA quizzes more than 20 over videoclip

The Star

The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has recorded the statements of more than 20 people in connection with a videoclip purportedly showing a lawyer brokering the appointment of judges. 

They included former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former chief secretary to the Government Tan Sri Samsuddin Osman.  

ACA director of investigations Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdul confirmed that their statements had been recorded.

However, it is up to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the videoclip to call all 20 to testify during its hearing from Jan 14 to Jan 25.  

According to sources, the ACA also recorded statements from former Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan and others whose names were mentioned in the 14-minute clip.  

They said that a man who was featured in the videoclip, besides the prominent lawyer, had also been identified.  

However, ACA officers have yet to record a statement from the man believed to be a businessman.  

On Saturday, Dr Mahathir confirmed that three ACA officers had interviewed him for an hour on Friday. 

The five-member commission of inquiry is led by Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor, a retired chief judge of Malaya, to probe allegations that Lingam had influenced judicial appointments.  

The commission has been tasked to, among others, ascertain the authenticity of the videoclip and look into the issues it raised. 

Haidar had said a list of witnesses would be proposed by ACA prosecution chief Datuk Nordin Hassan and Commercial Crime chief in the Attorney-General’s Chambers Datuk Azmi Ariffin.