The Malaysian Bar - ACA slaps ultimatum on Anwar to reveal video source

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ACA slaps ultimatum on Anwar to reveal video source

Monday, 22 October 2007 08:57pm

©The Sun (Used by permission)
by Llew-Ann Phang

PETALING JAYA (Oct 22, 2007): Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has until Thursday to provide the Anti-Corruption Agency with the complete 14-minute video recording of a telephone conversation between a senior lawyer and a "Datuk" – or face a fine of RM10,000, two years jail, or both.

Three ACA officers, led by Special Tasks Branch head and Deputy Commissioner Sazali Salbi, served Anwar with the order under Section 22(1)(b) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 during a three-hour-long session at Anwar’s office.

The former deputy premier told reporters he volunteered the original copy – in a thumbdrive – even before he was served with the notice.

"However, after verifying my statement, and some phone calls, the officers received instructions to issue an order compelling me to submit the original complete recording – including the six-minute segment that has yet to be viewed by the public on or before Thursday," he said.

On Sept 19, Anwar released the eight-minute recording at a press conference, withholding the six-minutes to avoid compromising the source.

A day later, PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah and Anwar’s political coordinator Sim Tze Tzin lodged a report at the ACA.

On Oct 4, Sivarasa and Sim were served with a similar notice compelling them to reveal the identity of the source within seven days. They had declined to do so.

Anwar said he did not have the original copy of the recording and will contact the source over the next few days to come out in the open.

"Whether eight minutes or 14 minutes will be subject to the source but eight minutes is enough to authenticate it," Anwar said, adding that PKR also had its forensic technical experts testify to its authenticity. During the questioning, Anwar said he pointed out that Sections 53 and 21(4) of the Anti-Corruption Act protects whistleblowers, and provides for investigations to be kept secret until the case is brought to court but the officers gave no response.

Anwar, was accompanied by lawyers Sivarasa, PKR treasurer-general William Leong and Sankara N. Nair – at the questioning and said the ACA was polite in pursuing the investigation.