Explosive evidence to be revealed in lawyer’s disciplinary case over PI Bala’s sworn statement
(TMI) – The disciplinary proceeding against prominent lawyer Tan Sri Cecil Abraham for allegedly preparing an unauthorised statutory declaration (SD) for the late private investigator P. Balasubramaniam (pic) may be opened to the public after it was learnt that more “explosive evidence” will be revealed.
Sources told The Malaysian Insider that a witness is expected to testify before the disciplinary committee that he was initially approached by a top Putrajaya official to help draft Bala’s second SD, but he had refused to comply.
This “explosive” testimony should be made public and that is why there are moves to open the proceedings to the public, a source told The Malaysian Insider.
It is learnt that Manjeet Singh Dhillon, who is holding a watching brief for Americk Singh Sidhu (Bala’s lawyer), would make the application before the three-man committee hearing the matter when the case continues on August 23.
Americk is also scheduled to give evidence on that day.
“The disciplinary proceeding rules are silent on allowing outsiders to follow the case. Anyway, this hearing should not be held behind closed doors as it was a case of public interest,” the source told The Malaysian Insider.
Lawyer Datuk Bastian Pius Vendargon is the new counsel for the Bar Council who is the complainant in the case. Vendargon replaced another senior lawyer Lambert Rasaratnam who opted out for reasons that remains sketchy.
Commenting on the move for public proceedings, civil law lecturer Surdev Singh said it was unprecedented as such inquiries were held to determine if the lawyer was guilty of professional misconduct.
“The committee will have to refer to the disciplinary board for a decision and very likely, parties may go to the High Court to determine whether such proceedings could go public or remain private,” Surdev told The Malaysian Insider.
The disciplinary proceeding against Abraham before a three-man Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (ASDB) committee for professional misconduct began in March.
The contentious second sworn statement was to counter Balasubramaniam’s first SD, which had incriminated Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and several other personalities in relation to the 2006 murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The ASDB decided to hold the proceedings after finding there was a prima facie case against the lawyer for professional misconduct because when Abraham drafted the SD, he was not on record as Bala’s lawyer.
At all material times, Americk was on record as counsel for Balasubramaniam, the source said.
