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©The Star (Used by permission)

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has directed the police to immediately start investigations into a video recording implicating a prominent lawyer purportedly brokering the appointment of judges.

The Prime Minister said it was important to act quickly because the content of the clip could tarnish the image of the country’s judiciary.

“We cannot treat this lightly. We will act fast to determine the truth,” Abdullah told reporters after chairing a Police Commission meeting at the Internal Security Ministry here yesterday.

On Wednesday, Parti Keadilan Rakyat released a video clip of the lawyer talking on the phone to someone who is said to be a senior judge about how he had helped get this judge appointed to one of the top judiciary posts.

The appointment was supposedly done through a prominent businessman and a politician. The lawyer also said he was working through the same two contacts to get the judge elevated even further and also get him a “Tan Sri” title.

The names of a number of prominent judges were also mentioned in the video.

Abdullah said that based on the content of the video clip and transcript that was sent to his office, only a single person’s conversation could be heard despite claims that the lawyer was talking to a senior judge.

“Can we believe or accept this?” he said.

He added that if investigations revealed that the claims were false, action would be taken against those who were trying to undermine the judiciary.

The prime minister said the video recording would invoke public anger and hatred towards the judiciary.

He said at this juncture, the question of setting up a Commission of Inquiry did not arise as the allegations in the video clip had yet to be proven as authentic.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the authenticity of the video footage had to be determined first before the Government could decide on any action.

“Modern day technology can also be abused. So before we conclude anything, let us establish whether there is basis or not,” Najib told reporters after launching the Malaysia Airlines Engineering Training Centre in Subang yesterday.

He said he had not seen the video footage. He also said that he had “not formally” spoken to Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim about the matter.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said as an immediate step, the police would call the prominent lawyer for questioning over the video clip issue.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the Police Commission meeting yesterday where he briefed Abdullah on the developments in the police force.

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