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• Lawyers apply to disqualify Mahadev, Khoo
• Inquiry postponed to Friday
• Lingam inquiry adjourned to Friday

KUALA LUMPUR, Wed: Day 16 of the Royal Commission of Enquiry Into the V.K. Lingam Video Clip started at 10.50am this morning.

Written applications for the recusal of Datuk Mahadev Shankar and Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Khoo Kay Khim were made yesterday by Tun Eusoff Chin and Dato’ V.K. Lingam through their respective counsel.

The Commission ruled yesterday that the contents of the said applications are not to be publicly disclosed or published.

Tan Sri Haidar started proceedings by stating that the Commissioners concerned needed time to consider the grounds of the said applications.

It was proposed that the proceedings be adjourned to Friday 15 February 2008 to hear the 2 applications and to move on from there depending on the decision in relation to them, unless counsel agreed that the proceedings ought to continue in the meantime.

Counsel for Tun Eusoff Chin and Dato’ V.K. Lingam agreed with the proposal to adjourn to Friday.

Yeo Yang Poh, counsel for the Malaysian Bar, pointed out that proceedings did continue yesterday even though the applications had been made and that it may be practical to continue with proceedings.

RSN Rayer, counsel for Jayanthi a/p Govindarajulu Naidu, said that his client was under tremendous pressure at the moment and it would be better if she was allowed to finish giving evidence. Tan Sri Haidar said that it was only a matter of one day and ideally the Commission would like to adjourn the proceedings to Friday.

Wee Choo Keong said that he was given limited time yesterday by the Commission to question the witnesses but it now appears that the adjournment would result in a waste of further time. Tan Sri Haidar remarked that although the Commission had sought to limit the time accorded to Wee, he was in fact allowed to question for much longer.

Dato’ Shafee echoed the sentiments of RSN Rayer. He said that Jayanthi and Ramachandran were both in the same situation. He said that there have been approaches made towards his client. He said he will monitor the threshold and as soon as it is crossed, he would proceed with contempt proceedings against the responsible parties. He urged all counsel to advise their respective clients not to make any contact with the witnesses.

The proceedings were adjourned to 10.00am Friday 15 February 2008.

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