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©Bernama
(Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Lawyer Datuk V.K.Lingam today revealed that
Malaysian Bar representative Robert Lazar had approached him in early 2000, to
seek assistance to meet former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as he
wanted to be appointed as Court of Appeal Judge.
Lingam said at that time Lazar was a lawyer and he wanted to be appointed
straight away as Court of Appeal Judge without being appointed as Judicial
Commissioner or High Court Judge beforehand as required.
"Since I was handling Mirzan Mahathir's case in a civil suit, while Lazar
represented the other party, Lazar approached me not to see Eusoff Chin to seek
assistance for him (Lazar) to be appointed as Court of Appeal Judge, but to
speak to Dr Mahathir instead.
"I told Lazar I did not know Dr Mahathir, then he (Lazar) told me to speak to
Mahathir's son (Mirzan). But I told Lazar, Mirzan was my client," he said.
Lingam told the Royal Commission of Inquiry that Lazar had approached him
several times but he could not help Lazar on that matter.
Lazar, however was not present today.
Asked by Malaysian Bar representative, Ranjit Singh, why Lazar was under the
impression that he (Lingam) could help Lazar on the appointment and could go
straight to Dr Mahathir, Lingam said: "I guess he (Lazar) was desperate to sit
on the bench just like Justice Gopal Sri Ram."
Court of Appeal judge, Datuk Gopal Sri Ram, who was then a lawyer, was appointed
as Court of Appeal Judge without having been appointed as Judicial Commissioner
or High Court Judge.
Earlier responding to Ranjit's question, Lingam denied that he had close
relationship with Lazar but said that Lazar was well known to him.
The matter on Lazar was raised after counsel Mohd Fauzi Mat Zain, who is
representing former chief justice Tun Eusoff Chin, asked Lingam whether anyone
had come to see him (Lingam) to seek his assistance over the appointment of
judges.
At this juncture, Lazar's name was not revealed yet. The name of "Robert Lazar"
was only revealed when Ranjit asked Lingam on the matter.
Lingam said someone (Lazar) had come to seek his assistance in getting him
(Lazar) appointed as Court of Appeal Judge.
"But the person wanted me to meet Dr Mahathir not Eusoff," said Lingam.
At this juncture, commissioner Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Noor interjected by saying
"is this during Eusoff's regime?"
Lingam said: "Yes".
To another question by Mohd Fauzi, on his holiday trip to New Zealand with
Eusoff in 1994, Lingam denied that he had paid all the expenses.
"I did not pay for the holiday. Not even a single sen," he said.
Lingam also denied that he had introduced Eusoff to his lawyer and business
friends to appoint Eusoff as consultant for any company after his (Eusoff's)
retirement.
Haidar then interjected that the question was never asked nor raised by the
counsels in the inquiry.
To another question, on the family photo taken in New Zealand, Mohd Fauzi asked
Lingam whether he (Lingam) had at any time approached Eusoff's wife and his
children on the appointment of judges.
Lingam said he had never done it. After Lingam's reply, Haidar told Mohd Fauzi
to be more realistic in his question.
"I'm not stopping you, but be realistic. Eusoff's two children were then aged
eight or 10. If they were aged in the 20's, then I can understand," said Haidar.
To another question by counsel M.Puravelan, representing Datuk Seri Anwar
Ibrahim (one of the witnesses to be called), whether Lingam had any problem with
his memory because Lingam had said 26 times "he did not remember" in his answer
during the inquiry, Lingam said he never had such a problem.
Questioned further by Puravelan, Lingam said he was an active practising
solicitor.
To a question on Dr Mahathir, Lingam said he only knew Dr Mahathir after the
latter engaged him as counsel in a suit filed by Anwar against Mahathir.
"I only met him after he engaged me as counsel. Other than that, I've never seen
him personally, but I've always seen him at public functions. I have also never
been to his (Dr Mahathir's) house," Lingam said.
At the afternoon session, another representative of the Malaysian Bar, Yeo Yang
Poh, asked the commission to call Lazar to testify over Lingam's evidence on his
"appointment as Court of Appeal Judge".
"We do not know whether the evidence by Lingam is true or not. May I apply for
Lazar to testify tomorrow?" asked Yeo.
When Haidar asked Yeo whether Lazar was at the inquiry today, Yeo said Lazar was
not present as he had a case in the High Court and this afternoon he had another
case at the Shah Alam High Court.
"He is only available tomorrow," said Yeo.
Haidar allowed Lazar to testify on the evidence made by Lingam that he (Lazar)
had asked Lingam to meet Dr Mahathir to appoint him (Lazar) straight away as
Court of Appeal Judge.
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Circular No 297/2008
