KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- "I can choose any topic I like. I can pretend
to talk to President Bush if I like," lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam said at the
inquiry into the controversial "Lingam" video clip today.
He was responding to a question on why he chose the topic on brokering of
judicial appointments to brag about it as depicted in the video clip showing a
man "who looks and sounds like me" talking over the phone.
Lingam, 57, who continued his testimony today was questioned further by
Malaysian Bar representative Ranjit Singh on why he discussed brokering of
judges with businessman Loh Mui Fah (as seen in the video clip) even "if you
were in a tipsy state".
Lingam answered: "This was in my house, my castle, in the privacy of my room. I
am the king in my house. I can talk whatever rubbish if I choose to even if I am
drunk as long as I do not misbehave in public."
Ranjit raised the question following Lingam's testimony on Monday, admitting
that he might have had one too many "drinks" during the occasion in December
2001 and that his (Lingam's) friend said "he (Lingam) talks rubbish when he
drinks wine".
Questioned further on why he discussed former Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz
Sheikh Abdul Halim's appointment as the Chief Judge of Malaya in front of Loh,
Lingam replied that he did not remember saying that.
Lingam agreed that he relied on the video clip showing wine bottles and other
alcoholic drinks to suggest that he might have been slightly intoxicated.
He said he made the assumption that "he" might have been slightly drunk on that
occasion as "he" was seen in the clip sipping wine from a wine glass and there
were also a few bottles of wine, whisky and brandy on the table in his house.
Commission chairman Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor then questioned Lingam on why
Loh and his son Gwo Burne came forward to the inquiry to identify that the man
in the video allegedly brokering judicial appointments, was him.
Haidar: Why did they do that because you said Loh is your social friend?
Lingam: I can't think of a reason.
Lingam further explained that if Loh and his son believed the content of the
video clip was true, they should have gone to the Anti-Corruption Agency or
police and not keep the tape for six years.
The Royal Commission of Inquiry was set up, among others, to ascertain the
authenticity of the video clip.
The other terms of reference of the commission are:-
* To enquire and identify the identity of the person in the video clip, to whom
he was speaking to and the persons mentioned in the conversation;
* To enquire and ascertain the truth of the content of the conversation in the
said video clip;
* To determine whether there is any misconduct by the person or persons
identified or mentioned in the said video clip; and
* To recommend any appropriate action to be taken against the person or persons
identified or mentioned in the video clip if the person or persons found to have
committed any misconduct.
To a question by commission member Datuk Mahadev Shankar on whether he was able
to confirm that the man in the video clip was him, Lingam said: "No, I said it
looked like me and did not say it was not me."
He said he was unable to say 100 percent that the man in the video clip was him
until the authenticity of its content was established by an expert witness.
Mahadev: You do not need to give me 100 percent.
However, in jest, Mahadev asked Lingam how many percent of him was in the video
clip?
Lingam: I don't want to get into mathematical ... with you.
Lingam said he would be glad to confirm whether the man in the video clip was
him if an expert witness confirmed the authenticity of its content.
"If the expert witness said 100 percent it was me, I would be the first to say
the man is me.
"I am not saying it is not me. I say it looks like me, sounds like me. I've made
myself very clear," he reiterated.
The issue was raised following a question by Loh's counsel Americk Singh Sidhu
on whether he disputed that the person in the photograph taken during his New
Zealand holiday trip with former Chief Justice Tun Eusoff Chin was him.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Talk on Intellectual Property Law (10 Feb 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, the talk on “Intellectual Property Law” will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 10 Feb 2012 (Friday). The talk will feature Bahari Yeow Tien Hong. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings (21 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, the seminar on “The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings”, featuring Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 21 Feb 2012 (Tuesday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Conveyancing (24 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar featuring Jeremiah R Gurusamy will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 24 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Mediation Skills Training Course (29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012) Organised by Bar Council, the Mediation Skills Training Course will take place at 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012 (Wednesday to Sunday). Deadline for registration and payment is 17 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on “Land Fraud: An Australian Perspective” (13 Mar 2012) Organised by IGIL, GSGSG and UUM COLGIS, this free talk featuring Quintin George Rozario of Delta Law, Brisbane, Australia, will take place at 9:00 am, at Dewan Seminar A, Pusat Konvensyen, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, on 13 Mar 2012 (Tuesday). To RSVP, contact Mr Abutt (04-928 4397; abutt@uum.edu.my).
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Circular No 021/2012: Application to State Authority for Consent to Transfer Properties
