Karpal wants Lingam case reopened

By Chan Kok Leong, The Edge

KUALA LUMPUR: It would be ironic if Parliament passed the Judges Code of Ethics Committee bill as Datuk VK Lingam’s case comes to a closure.

According to veteran lawyer and lawmaker Karpal Singh (Bukit Gelugor-DAP), the Attorney-General (AG) should reopen the prominent lawyer’s case and charge him for sedition.

“Lingam has brought disrepute to the judiciary system and should be charged under sedition,” said Karpal in Dewan Rakyat today.

Karpal asked in Dewan Rakyat if the government had received instructions from former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to close the case.

The government had confirmed in Parliament that investigations into the Lingam case has been closed.

In a written reply to Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-DAP) on Monday, the investigation showed no criminal offence had been committed in the appointment of judges.

Lingam, who acted as Dr Mahathir’s lawyer in a RM100 million defamation suit filed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Permatang Pauh-PKR), was featured in a video clip discussing the appointment of judges.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz replied that the AG has decided not to take action against Lingam.

Four investigation papers were opened against the lawyer in connection with the video clip, which was taken by Loh Gwo Burne (Kelana Jaya-PKR).

Three were sent to the AG’s chambers while one remained with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. Of the three, two were closed due to insufficient evidence while the remaining one was awaiting further investigation.

Nazri said the remaining paper was later classified by the AG as “no further action” as there were no suspects who could confirm the handling of documents in the appointment of High Court judges.

In 2008, a Royal Commission of Inquiry had found that video clip was authentic and there was direct influence of Lingam in the elevation of judges.

The commission had also identified six people — Dr Mahathir, Lingam, Tan Sri Vincent Tan, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin and Tun Ahmad Fairuz — to be investigated under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Sedition Act, Legal Profession Act, Official Secrets Act and Penal Code.

The Judges Code of Ethics Committee bill currently is undergoing Second Reading in Dewan Rakyat.