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©Bernama
(Used by permission)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- Former chief justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh
Abdul Halim testifying today before the Royal Commission Inquiry into a
controversial video clip about alleged judicial corruption, said his
relationship Datuk V.K.Lingam was one of judge and lawyer.
Ahmad Fairuz, 66, said he came to know Lingam when the latter appeared before
him in court cases.
Ahmad Fairuz said he also knew corporate figure Tan Sri Vincent Tan and Tourism
Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (since he was appointed Deputy
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) but contact with them was limited
to official functions.
Questioned by Datuk Azmi Ariffin, the head of the commercial crime division in
the Attorney-General's Chambers, who is assisting the inquiry, Ahmad Fairuz said
he could not be sure if the man talking in the tape was Lingam as he had only
met the latter a few times in court and once at the residence of Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
However, Ahmad Fairuz agreed that the man looked like Lingam.
Questioned further by Azmi, Ahmad Fairuz denied that there had been a conspiracy
between him, Lingam, Tengku Adnan and Vincent Tan to ensure he was promoted as
the Federal Court president and thereafter Chief Justice.
Asked by Azmi, if he knew the subject matter of the video clip, Ahmad Fairuz
said he was not able to tell as the conversation kept breaking.
He said he was shown the video clip by his former secretary on Nov 11 last year.
Ahmad Fairuz retired as Chief Justice on Oct 31, 2007.
He was then shown the video-clip, the sixth time it was presented in the course
of the inquiry.
When Azmi resumed questioning him, Ahmad Fairuz said that he had never
telephoned Lingam on Dec 20, 2002 to find out the status about him being
appointed Federal Court president.
He also denied ever having met Lingam, Tengku Adnan and Vincent Tan to ensure
his promotion as Federal Court president and Chief Justice.
Azmi: Did you at any time ask for help from Tengku Adnan and Vincent Tan through
Lingam to confirm your promotion as Federal Court president?
Ahmad Fairuz: Never.
Azmi: Did you at anytime telephone Lingam to thank him because you were promoted
as Chief Judge of Malaya?
Ahmad Fairuz: Never and the fact is not correct.
On the part in the clip where it was mentioned Tan Sri Abdul Malek Ahmad, who
was then Federal Court president, would be passed over for the Chief Justice's
post as the latter was anti-Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (the prime minister then),
Ahmad Fairuz replied he did not know.
To a question by his counsel Salehuddin Saidin, he stressed that he did not have
Lingam's telephone number and vice versa.
Salehuddin: Was it you who was talking to the Indian man (in the clip)?
Ahmad Fairuz: No.
Salehuddin: As such, the claim by the man that he was talking to you is not
true?
Ahmad Fairuz: Yes.
On a separate issue, Ahmad Fairuz said that he was appointed by Tan Sri Anuar
Zainal Abidin (the Chief Judge of Malaya then) as an Election Judge to hear a
petition involving Wee Choo Keong, a former Member of Parliament who is also a
lawyer.
Wee is also involved in the inquiry and is representing Lingam's younger
brother, V.K.Thirunama.
Questioned further by Salehuddin, Ahmad Fairuz said he made the decision to
reject the petition by Wee based on the facts and the law.
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Circular No 297/2008
