To many he is the senior lawyer in the videotape apparently brokering the
appointment of ‘friendly judges’ into top positions in the judiciary but to
others, he is a powerful and well-connected lawyer.
Who really is VK Lingam?
Malaysiakini reconstructed this portfolio based on information available
in a company annual report where Lingam is a director and news reports posted on
the Internet.
Kanagalingam Veluppillai, 56, began his career by serving several multinational
and local companies in various senior management positions between 1973 and
1983.
While serving as human resources manager in UMW Holdings under the stewardship
of Eric Chia (who later headed Perwaja Steel Holdings), he left to study law at
the University of Buckingham, England, and graduated in 1985.
On his return, he re-joined UMW as its group legal advisor in 1985, but started
his own practice four years later.
He was first caught in controversy when photographs surfaced on the Internet of
him and then Chief Justice Eusoff Chin while they were on holiday in New Zealand
in 1994 (right).
Eusoff denied that the holiday was paid for by Lingam - as had been alleged -
and they had merely bumped into one another. It was revealed later that the two
had been on same flight from Singapore to Auckland.
Following the discovery of the photos, the Bar Council sought to take
disciplinary action against Lingam in 1996. He sued the Bar Council and won -
then High Court judge Azmel Maamor decided against the Bar Council for failure
to furnish names of the disciplinary board members.
There was another set of infamous photos - this time taken in Italy where Lingam
were seen with well-connected tycoon Vincent Tan and then attorney-general
Mohtar Abdullah, who was later appointed Federal Court judge, and their
respective wives.
Notable court cases
1996 was to prove a busy year for Lingam, as lawyer or litigant in a number of
notable court cases.
About the same time, Lingam represented Berjaya group tycoon Tan in a defamation
suit against veteran journalist MGG Pillai which the High Court found in Tan’s
favour and awarded RM10 million in damages - a record sum.
Pillai’s appeal to the Federal Court was heard by a three-member panel led by
Eusoff, who upheld the finding but reduced the quantum of damages to RM2
million.
Still in 1996, Lingam filed three defamation suits for a total of RM190 million
against lawyers, journalists and several others over an article in the
International Commercial Litigation (ICL) magazine.
The article ‘Malaysian Justice on Trial’ published in the November issue
of the British-based magazine had suggested that Lingam and Tan had connections
with judges, namely in the controversial Ayer Molek case and Tan’s suit against
Pillai.
It was only last year that High Court judge Hishamudin Yunus dismissed
the suit filed against the magazine and said it was Lingam’s wrongful conduct in
the Ayer Molek case that had led to the publication of the article.
Hishamudin said Lingam was guilty of “abusing and manipulating the process of
court” in filing the action in the appellate and special powers division of the
High Court instead of the commercial division.
Malaysian-based Asian Wall Street Journal correspondent, Raphael Pura - who was
also sued by Lingam - had alleged that Lingam himself had penned part of High
Court judge Mokhtar Sidin’s judgment on the Pillai case.
Defamation suits aside, the lawyer has provided legal services to Eric Chia when
Perwaja Steel was saddled with RM6.9 billion in debts in 1996.
An audit report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers into the ailing company’s records was
ordered by former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. The report disclosed that Lingam
had been paid RM12 million for his services.
Lingam’s string of high-profile clients include former premier Dr Mahathir
Mohamad, who has been sued by Anwar for defamation. The case has been struck out
but Anwar’s lawyer had expressed intentions to appeal.
The spotlight is now back on Lingam - on Sept 18, PKR de facto leader Anwar
Ibrahim released a grainy eight-minute video clip of the lawyer on the phone,
apparently revealing his influence in brokering judicial appointments.
By inference, the conversation appeared to involve current Chief Justice Ahmad
Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim. Neither has openly denied the claims to date,
although the latter is said to have contacted de facto law minister Mohd Nazri
Abdul Aziz with a denial.
Lingam is now on the board of directors in network marketing Cosway Corporation
Bhd, a subsidiary of Berjaya Group.
Read also judgments in previous disciplinary proceedings:
We know! written by Ravindra P. Nanukuttan,
Tuesday, October 02 2007 10:03 pm
Now we know why Hishamuddin Yunus was never promoted being the good judge he is.
Ravindra P. Nanukuttan
speaking of judges not promoted written by Alex Tan Ken Seng,
Wednesday, October 03 2007 10:49 am
I wonder if anyone out there is kind and knowledgeable enough to let us readers know which High Court judges have served the longest without being promoted, and which the shortest, before promotion (from the High Court to Appeal Court, as well as from Appeal Court to Federal Court).
Alex Tan Ken Seng
When does one become a 'senior lawyer'? written by Abdul Fareed Bin Abdul Gafoor,
Wednesday, October 03 2007 11:05 am
Can anyone enlightened me what is the criteria/criterion for a lawyer to be recognised as 'senior lawyer'?
Abdul Fareed Bin Abdul Gafoor
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2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Talk on Intellectual Property Law (10 Feb 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, the talk on “Intellectual Property Law” will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 10 Feb 2012 (Friday). The talk will feature Bahari Yeow Tien Hong. Click on the link above for more details.
The Case of the Missing Penang Lawyer: Charity Treasure Hunt 2012 (12 Feb 2012) Organised by the Penang Bar Committee Social Subcommittee in aid of the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), this event will take place at Straits Quay, Penang, on 12 Feb 2012 (Sunday). Deadline for registration is 6 Feb 2012 (Monday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings (21 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, the seminar on “The Fundamentals of Bankruptcy Proceedings”, featuring Sanjeev Kumar Rasiah, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 21 Feb 2012 (Tuesday). Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on the Fundamentals of Conveyancing (24 Feb 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar featuring Jeremiah R Gurusamy will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 24 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Mediation Skills Training Course (29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012) Organised by Bar Council, the Mediation Skills Training Course will take place at 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 29 Feb to 4 Mar 2012 (Wednesday to Sunday). Deadline for registration and payment is 17 Feb 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on “Land Fraud: An Australian Perspective” (13 Mar 2012) Organised by IGIL, GSGSG and UUM COLGIS, this free talk featuring Quintin George Rozario of Delta Law, Brisbane, Australia, will take place at 9:00 am, at Dewan Seminar A, Pusat Konvensyen, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah, on 13 Mar 2012 (Tuesday). To RSVP, contact Mr Abutt (04-928 4397; abutt@uum.edu.my).
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On his return, he re-joined UMW as its group legal advisor in 1985, but started
his own practice four years later.
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Circular No 019/2012: Change of Address for Pejabat Pengarah Tanah dan Galian Wilayah Persekutuan
Now we know why Hishamuddin Yunus was never promoted being the good judge he is.
Ravindra P. Nanukuttan