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KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Lawyer Wee Choo Keong apologised to the Royal Commission of Inquiry today after he was ticked off for releasing his written submission on the relevancy of the "Lingam-Eusoff holiday trip evidence" to the media on Tuesday.

His apology was welcomed by the commission and everyone present at the inquiry.

The commission had earlier said that Wee's action could amount to misconduct as it (commission) had not decided on which issue Wee could argue.

Commission chairman Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor told Wee that as a senior member of the Bar, he should have known that he could not release the document to the media as the commission had not decided which content of the submission was relevant for Wee to make his submission to the inquiry.

The commission had on Tuesday decided that they would go through Wee's submission and pick out the relevant portion of which Wee could submit since the document contains "colourful allegations".

Wee is the lawyer for V.K. Thirunama, the younger brother of Datuk V.K. Lingam who is implicated in the video clip showing a man brokering judicial appointments allegedly with a senior judge.

Today, there was another round of "exchange of words" between Wee and Haidar but it was not a tense situation.

Replying to Haidar's question, Wee said: "The press asked for the document. They wanted to know. So I gave it to them.

Haidar repeatedly told Wee that as a senior lawyer he should have known the document could not be released prior to the commission's decision.

Haidar then said that he had to take action to inform the public relations officer (Legal Affairs) in the Prime Minister's Department to tell the media not to publish the document.

Wee replied that the inquiry was an open hearing and not a court of law, adding that the public had the right to know.

"But we haven't made our decision. What is the effect? Does it amount to misconduct? What is the reason for you to release the document?" asked Haidar.

Wee then said: "If the commissioner is upset about it, then I am sorry."

Wee's apology was applauded by everyone at the inquiry.

Haidar said: "Thank you, It's very nice."

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