©Malaysiakini
(Used by permission)
by Chua Sue–Ann
The royal commission of inquiry into the ‘Lingam tape’ today interrogated senior
Anti–corruption Agency (ACA) investigating officer Chuah Lay Choo for neglecting
to record statements of important witnesses.
Among the six names mentioned by commissioner Mahadev Shankar (photo) were
Zainuddin Ismail, Raja Aziz, Thayalan, Zainal and Manjit.
Although he did not state the names in full, Mahadev noted that these had
appeared in Chuah’s copy of the transcript of senior lawyer VK Lingam’s
telephone conversation from the tape.
“Why this omission?” Mahadev asked, to which Chuah replied that she had recorded
statements only from R Thayalan and Raja Aziz – without providing reasons – and
then identified Thayalan as VK Lingam’s lawyer.
Further questioned by Mahadev and another commissioner, Steve Shim, as to
whether Chuah believed that the witnesses were important, she said: “In this
context, (they are) relevant.”
Chuah, who began testifying yesterday as the second of 17 witnesses on the
panel’s list, said she had recorded statements from 33 witnesses during the
investigation into claims of judicial fixing, based on Lingam’s conversation.
She submitted investigation papers to her branch chief Sazali Salbi for guidance
and direction but not the ACA prosecutor, she said.
Discrepancies discovered
Lawyer Ranjit Singh, who is holding a watching brief for the Malaysian Bar,
highlighted “material discrepancies” in Chuah’s transcript – compared to the Bar
Council’s copy – of the telephone conversation.
In it, Lingam can be heard discussing the appointment of judges allegedly with
then chief judge of Malaya Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.
Ranjit proceeded to lead Chuah through 11 discrepancies, beginning with the
omission of the word ‘with’ in her transcription.
The royal commission rejected that example as unimportant but Ranjit argued that
the Bar Council had highlighted other more important examples.
In the interests of time, Chuah was granted leave to study the video clip
against the discrepancies and will testify again tomorrow.
Yesterday, she confirmed that photos taken in Lingam’s house matched the
background of the video, which was recorded in late 2001.
Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim
are expected to appear as witnesses tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex
in Jalan Duta.
PKR vice–president Sivarasa Rasiah and Anwar’s aide Sim Tze Tzin are also
expected to testify as the inquiry enters its third day.
Other members of the commission are chairperson Haidar Mohamed Noor, former
solicitor–general Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh and historian and human rights
commissioner Prof Khoo Kay Kim.
Royal panel grills ACA officer over omission
15 Jan 2008 12:00 am