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It's an outrageous lie by Lingam, says Lazar |
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Tuesday, 29 January 2008 04:36pm |
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©Bernama
(Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Bar representative Robert Lazar
today refuted Datuk V. K. Lingam's claim that he had sought Lingam's assistance
to be appointed a Court of Appeal judge, describing it as an outrageous lie.
Lazar 51, who is attached to Shearn Delamore & Co, said the allegation made by
Lingam had absolutely no basis and was not true.
"I was told that the incident took place in 2000. At that time I was 43 years
old and I had 23 years of legal experience. I had no reason to abandon my legal
career in order to be Court of Appeal judge. The occasion never arose at all,"
he said.
Lazar was allowed by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam video clip
to take the witness stand to rebut Lingam's allegation.
Lingam told the inquiry yesterday that Lazar approached him in early 2000 to
seek assistance to meet the then prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to
help him become an appellate judge.
Asked by Malaysian Bar representative Yeo Yang Poh whether he and Lingam had a
drink together after a court case, Lazar said he never had a drink with Lingam
after a court case or in any other place.
Asked why Lingam had made such an allegation against him, Lazar said Lingam was
out to discredit and embarrass him.
Lazar said the allegation was also an attempt to disqualify him from continuing
to represent the Malaysian Bar.
"I won't succumb to that. The allegation was also to distract me," he added.
To a suggestion from Lingam's counsel, R. Thayalan, that after a court case, he
had a drink with Lingam at Sembang Restaurant at the Kuala Lumpur High Court
where he sought Lingam's help to get him appointed as an appellate court judge,
Lazar said he never had a drink with Lingam.
Lazar also stressed that he did not at any time have a conversation with Lingam
on the matter.
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