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©Bernama
(Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15, (Bernama) -- Lawyer V.K Lingam was talking with former
chief justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim in the controversial video
clip on the alleged brokering of judicial appointments, the Royal Commission of
Inquiry heard Tuesday.
Businessman Loh Mui Fah, 58, said Lingam told him that he was speaking to Ahmad
Fairuz after the controversial conversation was recorded by the former's son
using an "advanced camera".
"In fact, I didn't know anybody, he (Lingam) had given me the answer that he is
the chief justice of Malaya," he said.
To a question by deputy public prosecutor Datuk Nordin Hassan whether Lingam
mentioned the person's name, Loh answered, "Yes, Datuk Ahmad Fairuz".
Loh said that at that time, Lingam was answering the call.
He also confirmed that he was the person seen talking to Lingam after the
telephone conversation towards the end of the video clip.
Loh said that while he could hear the entire conversation because he was just a
few feet away from Lingam, he however, could not understand its contents.
To a question by Nordin whether he had seen the video clip which led to the
setting up of the royal commission, Loh replied, "Yes, I have seen it".
Nordin: Do you know who recorded the video clip
Loh : Yes, I know, it was my son who recorded it.
Nordin: Did you know at that particular time
Loh: No, I didn't know.
Nordin: When did you find out
Loh: After it went public, in the internet.
Loh said one of his office staff told him that it was his son who recorded the
video clip but could not remember who was the staff.
To a question by Nordin whether his son, (Loh) Gwo Burne was willing to testify
before the commission, Loh said he had already been approached by ACA officers
on that matter.
He said he had informed his office to make the (necessary) arrangements to bring
back his 34-year-old son from overseas.
To another question, he added that he did not know who was responsible for
releasing the video clip to the press.
At this juncture, Nordin applied to call upon Lingam for identification.
Upon seeing Lingam, Loh confirmed that he was the person he had met at his house
on Dec 20, 2001, and that he (Lingam) was the person speaking over the telephone
in the video clip.
Replying to a question by commission chaiman Tan Sri Haidar Mohamed Nor on where
he was when Lingam spoke over the telephone, Loh said he was on the sofa, while
his son was sitting behind him. He said the distance between him and his son was
just a few feet.
To another question posed by Haidar on whether he could see his son during the
conversation, Loh said he could not, unless he turned around.
Replying to a question by commissioner Puan Sri Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh on what he
was doing when the conversation took place, Loh said: "I was just sitting on the
sofa because I had nothing to do".
Loh said he knew Lingam in the mid-90s as he was the lawyer who handled his
legal matters.
On several occassions, he said, Lingam had invited him to come over to his house
but he went there together with his son only once, and that was on Dec 20, 2001,
which was the day when the telephone phone conversation took place.
"At that time, he (Lingam) was supposed to have a discussion on my legal
matters, as well as to have the end-year gathering," added Loh.
On that day, he said that he had arrived at Lingam's house, not later than 7pm,
adding that at that time, Lingam, his security guard and a maid were present.
Loh said that subsequently, Lingam's sister arrived, but he could not remember
her name even though he had mentioned it.
He said that during the meeting, his son who at that time always carried a
camera wherever he went, took a photograph of him, Lingam and Lingam's sister.
Replying to a question by Nordin whether he knew what type of camera his son
used, Loh said: "At that time, I didn't know but subsequently, I know it was an
'advanced one'. After half an hour, Lingam' sister left and after that my son,
Lingam and I had dinner. "We then proceeded to the sofa and had a drink". To a
question by his lawyer, Americk Singh Sidhu on whether two photographs showing
him, Lingam and Lingam's sister (in the first photograph) and another showing
him, Lingam and a lawyer, the late Manjit Singh, were taken on the same evening
by his son, Loh replied: "Yes".
Loh said Manjit came to the house after the conversation.
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