Land scams on the rise

Sunday December 23, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Landowners beware! Your property is at risk. There has been a rising number of land scams in recent years, especially in the Klang Valley. Worse, the scams are targeting higher-value land too.

Government statistics revealed in Parliament recently showed that there were 16 land scams recorded in 2001, 19 in 2002, 22 in 2003, 32 in 2004, 35 in 2005 and 80 last year.

Police statistics also showed that last year the value of land involved in the scams was almost RM4.9mil. This year, up till October, the value of the land was more than RM10.4mil.

Only four people were arrested over the offences last year and just one this year.

National House Buyers Association secretary Chang Kim Loong expressed concern over increasing incidences of land scams and the high number of unsolved cases.

“This could lead to a loss of confidence in the Malaysian property market,” he said.

Chang urged the Government to initiate an insurance scheme to indemnify anyone who suffers loss due to fraudulent land transfer.

Commercial Crimes Investigation Department legal / inspectorate division principal assistant director ACP Tan Kok Liang said that in certain cases it was difficult to get evidence against the perpetrators because they used other people's identity.

The most recent case involves Taiwanese businessman Chen Wei Pin, who found that a private caveat had been entered on his land by a director of Zen Zaman Sdn Bhd, claiming that Chen had sold the land to his company. Chen denied any such transaction.

His plight was brought up by the MCA Public Service and Complaints Department, which has received 18 such complaints involving land worth RM30mil in the past five years.

Assistant professor Dr Sharifah Zubaidah Syed Abdul Kader of the Public Law Department of the International Islamic University Malaysia said the law did not fully protect landowners, especially in cases of forgery.

“Even if they are able to prove the title is theirs, they can still lose their land. The court will inevitably rule against them as long as it can be proven that the purchaser had bought the land on good faith,” she added.

Roger Tan, the Bar Council's Conveyancing Practice Committee chairman, said the onus had fallen on landowners to conduct regular checks on their land title.

Tun Dr Mahathir quizzed by ACA over video clip

Saturday December 22, 2007

PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has interviewed Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the video clip purportedly showing a senior lawyer brokering the appointment of judges.

Dr Mahathir, who was fielding questions during a brief press conference at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here Saturday, said three ACA officers interviewed him on Friday.

"They questioned me and I answered them," he said, adding that the interview lasted for about one hour.

When asked what some of the questions were, Dr Mahathir said: "I cannot tell you that."

He said if he was asked to testify at the recently set up Royal Commission of Inquiry into the videoclip, he would not say no.

Dr Mahathir was also asked to comment on the setting up of the commission to which he said it was not his place to talk about it.

A reporter then said that Dr Mahathir's name was implicated in the video clip to which he said he did not know what was said and that he had not seen the clip.

"The only thing I have seen is what was shown on TV3. So I do not know what the lawyer (in the clip) said. You (the reporter) know better," he said.

On the Government using the Internal Security Act (ISA) against Hindraf leaders, Dr Mahathir said he himself had used the ISA before.

"It is up to the government and the people to decide this. You see, we are a democratic country.

"If the people selected to lead are the people who support the use of ISA, then they will use it. The choice is yours. I thought people approved the use of ISA when they supported me, so I implemented it."

However, Dr Mahathir felt that problems felt by any community ought to be addressed in other ways and that public assemblies should only be used as a last resort.

Earlier, Dr Mahathir launched a book entitled The Third World & International Law authored by Tunku Sofiah Jewa.

Dr Mahathir, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday and Tunku Sofiah whose birthday was Saturday, were also given surprise birthday cakes after the book launch.

Lorry with RM500,000 microchips hijacked

Friday December 21, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Three men armed with parangs hijacked a lorry laden with computer chips worth over RM500,000 at the Rawang rest area.

The trio surrounded the lorry driver, in his 30s, as he came out of the toilet at 5.30am yesterday.

The men then forced the driver into the lorry and drove away from the rest area, while their accomplice trailed the lorry in a four-wheel drive, police said.

The lorry driver was dropped off about five kilometres from the rest area and lodged a police report at Gombak district police headquarters.

Anyone with information on the incident can contact the district police headquarters at 03-6126 6666.

Guard shot dead in RM20,000 bank robbery

Saturday October 27, 2007

AMPANG: A security guard was shot dead when a robber, armed with an automatic pistol, robbed a bank in Taman Muda, here.

The guard, Kamaruzzaman Hussin (pic), 36, was shot in the head and the armpit. He died at the Ampang Hospital an hour after the 9.35am incident.

The robber, in his 20’s, wearing a helmet and jacket, walked into the Public Bank after it opened for business and fired a shot near one of the counters.

Kamaruzzaman returned fire with his pump gun and in the subsequent shoot-out, the security guard was hit and he fell. The robber then ordered a cashier to hand over the money.

Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Mazlan Mansor said the robber fled on a motorcycle after taking RM20,450. It is learnt that at least eight shots were fired during the robbery.

The entire robbery lasted just one minute and 20 seconds. There were between 10 to 12 customers in the bank during the robbery. None were harmed.

At the Ampang Hospital here, Kamaruzzaman’s wife Sriwati Kasim, 26, said she was shocked to hear that her husband had been killed.

“We were planning to go back to Kuantan tomorrow (today) for his younger brother’s wedding,” she said, adding that Kamaruzzaman had worked as a security guard for the past 11 years.

PM: Follow procedures before going on raids

Saturday October 27, 2007

KEPALA BATAS: The deaths of two police officers during a drug raid in Kampung Desa Aman, Sungai Buloh, on Thursday could have been avoided if they had followed procedures, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

“The approach (used by the police officers) in this case was inappropriate. It (the killings) could have been avoided if it was carried out properly, with help from different police squads, probably with the use of loud hailers as well.

“To have a proper strategy, the superiors should be notified before any raid is carried out. It is vital to have a well coordinated plan before embarking on raids against suspects,” he said after opening the RM83mil Kepala Batas Hospital here yesterday.

Abdullah said the suspects were said to have been involved in drug production, as there was a laboratory in the premises.

“Those involved in this case probably knew if they are caught, and if found to be guilty, would be sentenced to death.

“Definitely they would have wanted to live, and I suppose they could have fired the shots at the policemen to escape,” he said.

He said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan had assured him that the police force would work hard to ensure those who killed the officers would be caught.

Abdullah said weaknesses should be looked into and improved as lives of the law enforcers were at stake during the raid.

“I am angry with what had happened and don’t want a repeat of such an incident where lives are unnecessarily sacrificed.”

Abdullah said he was angered by the incident, noting that the criminals had become more brazen of late.

In KUANTAN, Internal Deputy Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow said criminals are becoming more violent and they have access to firearms.

He advised the police to be always on the alert.

Musa orders thorough probe

Saturday October 27, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Get the cop killers – that was Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s order to his men following the killing of two detectives who were gunned down during a drug bust in Sungai Buloh on Thursday night.

A furious Musa also wants his men to use all resources available to bring to book the trigger-happy gunmen who also shot and wounded two police Inspectors during the incident at Kampung Desa Aman.

“My priority now is to catch these cop killers.

“A massive hunt is on to identify and get them,” he said after the launching of the Community Day With Police 2007 by Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s department at the Sungei Besi police station here yesterday.

L/Kpl K. Jayabalan from the Gombak police headquarters died at the scene while detective L/Kpl M. Alagesan from the city police headquarters died at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.

The injured were C/Insp Helmi Zakaria from the Gombak Narcotics division and C/Insp R. Rajkumaran who both had 9mm bullets removed from their bodies at the Kuala Lumpur hospital. Their conditions were listed as stable.

Musa also ordered thorough investigations into what actually happened, including finding out if the officers and men involved in the operation were part of a task force.
He also wants answers as to how the operation was carried out and who the task force commander was.

“When we form a task force, officers and personnel from various departments will be roped in to assist in the investigations and operations.

“It is not unusual for officers and men from different departments to be involved,” he added.
To a question, the IGP said he would be requesting an allocation from the Government to buy more bullet-proof vests for his men to be worn during special operations and patrols.
He said the number of vests they had now was only enough for the personnel of the Special Operations Force and serious crimes division.

“At the moment, the vests are used by those who are in the special task force (UTK) because they are more likely to be involved in dangerous operations.
“I want to buy more bullet-proof vests for policemen who carry out general duties including those in patrol cars and those who carry out operations in the CID, narcotics and commercial crime divisions,” he added.

On the activities of the drug syndicate that was raided, Musa said his officers were trying to identify who they were and how many people were involved in the syndicate.

It is learnt that police found several packets containing “ice” or syabu and suspect that the double-storey terrace house was being used as the distribution centre.

A car found parked in the porch of the house is believed to have been reported stolen. Police have dusted the car for fingerprints.

In KOTA BARU, IAN MCINTYRE reports that Kelantan police have tightened checks at the three main border crossings in the state following the shootout in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.
Latest information and photo profiles of suspects have been distributed to the border areas and police outposts, state CPO Senior Asst Comm (I) Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said.
He said the General Operations Force (PGA) personnel have also been notified since they conducted several roadblock checks around the border.

“If they come, we will be ready for them. We have been informed they are armed and dangerous,” he added.

Driver beaten to death in foiled carjacking bid

Wednesday October 24, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: A limousine driver was bludgeoned to death in a botched carjacking attempt at the 10th kilometre of Jalan Gombak here.

Low Teck Chai, 46, from Gombak was found slumped in a pool of blood in the back seat of a Mercedes-Benz S Class.

City CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Ku Chin Wah said Low was attacked by four men when he stopped to fill up petrol.

“When Low refused to get out of the car, he was repeatedly assaulted. One of the armed men pushed Low, who was bleeding profusely, aside and got into the driver's seat.

“The car thief drove the car less than 30m before the vehicle’s immobiliser jammed its engine and the alarm went off.”

The men fled from the scene in a black Proton Perdana, also believed to be stolen.

Boy remanded over schoolmate's death

Tuesday October 23, 2007MYT 6:02:35 PM

BAGAN SERAI: Police have obtained a seven-day remand order to detain a 14-year-old student of SMK Bagan Serai to help investigation over the killing of a 13-year-old schoolmate.

Kerian OCPD Supt Mat Fauzi Nayan said the boy was brought to the Parit Buntar magistrate's court Monday for remand until Oct 29.

He is held to help investigation into the murder of Remove Class student Loh Wei Kuan.
Loh was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Bagan Serai health clinic about 500m away from the school on Monday afternoon.

A short scuffle over a stolen pen was said to have broken out between the two boys at a corridor of a classroom block.

Supt Mat Fauzi said the suspect was picked up at his home in Kampung Keramat here on Monday.

The case has been classified as murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Supt Mat Fauzi said the police were in the process of completing their investigations to be forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's office for further instructions.

"Our investigation shows that this was an isolated case and not related to any other illegal activities. The matter has been solved with the suspect's arrest," he said.

He declined to reveal the findings of the victim's post-mortem report.

Canadian consultant attacked by Mat Rempit

Monday October 22, 2007

SEREMBAN: A 43-year-old Canadian consultant on a job assignment here escaped serious injury when a group of Mat Rempit attacked him along Jalan Rasah on Saturday night.
Manjit Sokhal from Montreal, who comes here to work at a branch office three to four times annually, was driving his four-wheel drive at about 11pm with three friends from India when a car suddenly pulled up in front.

Some 40 Mat Rempit on motorcycles then surrounded his vehicle.

“When I wound down my window to inquire, one of them punched me. He also hit my face with a helmet,” said Manjit Singh, adding that he was injured in his left eye and mouth.

Bad experience: Manjit showing the injury on his mouth after he was assaulted by the Mat Rempit in Seremban. With him is Yip.Manjit Singh said the Mat Rempit then went on to damage his vehicle’s rear lights, wipers and number plates.

“It was the most harrowing experience. I was assaulted for no reason,” he said.

Manjit Singh said the motorcyclists warned him to be careful as he was a foreigner.

Manjit Singh claimed that he was not aware what prompted the attack but felt it could be due to his slow speed of 40kph.

He lodged a report at the Seremban Two police station the same night, and also met Rahang assemblyman Datuk Yip Chee Kiong.

Yip urged the police to haul up those responsible, adding that the country’s image was at stake.

Burglar shot dead in shootout

Monday October 22, 2007MYT 7:31:07 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Two Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) unit policemen were seriously injured while a burglar was shot dead in a shootout during a break-in in Selayang.

The burglar died on the spot after he was shot twice on his chest in the 1am incident Monday near the Selayang wholesale market here in Jalan Ipoh.

He was identified as Ng Kien Tee, 38, from Sentul.

A .38 Smith and Wesson revolver with two live bullets and four spent shells used by the burglar was recovered near his body.

Selangor deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm I Mohmad Salleh said Lance Corporal Mat Azri Awang Ngah, 29, was shot on his right thigh while Constable Abdul Hafiz Jalamlul Ramle, 22, took a shot to his ribs and his left knee.

Both underwent surgery and are reported to be in serious condition.

ACA wraps up pipe probe

Thursday October 18, 2007

PENANG: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has concluded its investigations into a Penang Water Supply Corporation Sdn Bhd manager in connection with a RM2mil pipe replacement project on the island.

State ACA director Ja’afar Mahad said the six-month-long investigation had been completed and the case had been referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor’s office in Putrajaya last week.

“Now it depends on the Attorney-General’s Office if they want to pursue the case,” he said.
Ja’afar, who refused to divulge further details on the case, said it was investigated under Section 11 (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.

If convicted, a person can be jailed a minimum of 14 days or a maximum of 20 years, and fined five times the bribe or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
It is learnt that the manager drives a luxury car and owns at least two properties worth several million ringgit.

Sources said the water corporation had been purchasing about RM120mil of iron pipes a year from 2000 till 2006.

These pipes were used to replace the old ones on the island and Seberang Prai to reduce frequent disruptions in supply and leakages.

Abducted maid found 400km away

Thursday October 18, 2007MYT 4:07:06 PM

MIRI: The Indonesian maid abducted by a gang of armed robbers during a robbery at a contractor’s house in Bakun on Monday has been found unharmed in Bintulu town, 400km from where she was taken.

The maid, in her early 20s, was found early yesterday morning, apparently dumped by the robbers on a road near the town centre.

Five robbers, armed with shotguns and samurai swords, had robbed the contractor, whose house was in a remote oil palm plantation near the Bakun hydroelectric dam project site in Belaga district, of more than RM20,000 in cash and belongings. They abducted the maid before escaping in a car.

Sources said the robbers had initially demanded another RM20,000 from the contractor, who is his late 30s, for the safe return of the maid but he did not entertain the ransom demand.
They apparently panicked and released the maid after they had escaped to Bintulu following a massive manhunt by the police.

Belaga police chief ASP Mohamed Rizal, who led a team of investigators to Bintulu to join in the hunt for the robbers, said Thursday that the maid was unharmed but declined to give further details.

Two held after girl reports rape

Thursday October 18, 2007MYT 7:20:36 PM

MUAR: Police have detained two youths, aged 16 and 21, after a 14-year-old girl alleged that she had been raped twice.

The secondary school student said that one youth raped her in Taman Tangkak Jaya a week before Hari Raya and the other person raped her in Bukit Kepong on Oct 16.
The suspects, from Bukit Gambir and Bukit Kepong, were detained after the girl's father lodged a police report at 1am Thursday.

Muar CID chief Deputy Supt Khoo Leng Huat said the suspects, a school dropout and an unemployed, would be charged with statutory rape.

Another senior court official held for alleged graft

Friday September 28, 2007

By LOURDES CHARLES

KUALA LUMPUR: A second senior official of the Perak syariah court has been arrested for alleged graft in just three weeks.

The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) detained the 38-year-old man at 11.45am yesterday after he was summoned to the Perak state ACA office.

ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan

It is learnt that the official had allegedly demanded and accepted bribes totalling about RM4,000 to settle a khalwat (close proximity) case.

ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan confirmed the arrest but declined to elaborate as investigations are still under way.

On Sept 6, another senior Perak syariah court official was arrested on suspicion of accepting bribes to expedite the settlement of a case involving a VIP.

He was arrested at his office by ACA officers following complaints from the public.

Sources said the complainant in the second case contacted the ACA after the official said he could drop the case for a fee. He allegedly asked the victim to deposit the money in his bank account, which the victim did after lodging a report with the ACA.

The ACA is expected to obtain a remand order today before the official is charged under Section 11(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act.

In the earlier case, it is believed that the official is being investigated under Section 11(a) of the Anti-Corruption Act for allegedly accepting RM4,200 on two occasions.

It is also learnt that it was not the first case involving the official, who is in his 50s. On Sept 10, the official was released after posting RM10,000 bail at the ACA office in Ipoh.

600 fish die at Langkawi Underwater World

Wednesday September 26, 2007

By SIRA HABIBU

LANGKAWI: About 600 fish worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit have mysteriously died at Langkawi Underwater World.

Police believe the fish, which included sharks and stingrays, were poisoned. They have also not ruled out sabotage as the fish started dying en masse just before closing time at 6pm on Monday.

A mystery: A worker removing the dead Travelitunne from the fish tanks at the Langkawi Underwater World yesterday.

Among the sharks that died were the blacktip, whitetip, leopard and nurse sharks.

Yesterday morning hundreds of fish carcasses were floating in the hexagonal and tunnel tanks at the old wing of the UWL. Fish in five smaller tanks were also not spared.

UWL workers managed to save about 30 fish in the smaller tanks.

Deputy general manager Mohd Hafizuddin Abdullah said the fish died quite fast, without any obvious sign of distress.

“We did not see them wriggling in water before dying.

“Samples including water and carcasses have been taken for chemical analysis,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Mohd Hafizuddin said a thorough investigation was being carried out.

“Among the oldest fish that has died was a nurse shark that is about 12 years old,” he added.

He said the freshwater and marine life section at UWL has been temporarily closed to visitors to facilitate the investigation.

UWL houses 4,000 animals and sea creatures in 100 specially designed tanks.

UWL worker Malik Azmin said he felt sad to see the carcasses floating in the tank.

Wednesday September 26, 2007
MYT 7:38:25 PM

Fishy deaths - police believe it's an inside job

By SIRA HABIBU

LANGKAWI: In what is believed to be an inside job, Langkawi Underwater World has offered a RM10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for poisoning about 600 fish.

Langkawi OCPD Supt Mohd Ali Jamaludin urged those with information to assist the police to bring the culprits to book as soon as possible.

“We believe the poisoning was done by insiders. It was well planned.

“We suspect two or more people were involved,” he said, adding that the crime had affected Langkawi’s highly-valued tourism product.

It was reported that about 600 fish worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit were found dead in two large tanks and five smaller tanks of the old wing of UWL on Monday.

Among the valuable fish that died were sharks including the white tip, black tip, leopard and nurse, and variety of stingrays including the rare cownose ray.

“The fish started dying en masse at about 6.40pm just as the lights were switched off,” he said when contacted on Wednesday.

Police have ruled out outsiders’ involvement because the inlets to the tanks were accessible only to UWL staff.

Supt Mohd Ali also noted several weaknesses in the security system at the old wing including absence of CCTV and free accessibility to all personnel.

He said police had taken water and carcass samples for analysis and the results would be known within a week.

“The chemical used could be petroleum,” he said.

The case is being investigated under Section 429 of the Penal Code for treason. If found guilty the offender is liable to a minimum fine of RM25,000 and or jailed up to five years.

Senior cop faces 2 more charges of money laundering

Wednesday September 26, 2007
MYT 4:27:58 PM

By ROSLINA MOHAMAD

TEMERLOH: A police superintendent, who is already facing three charges of money laundering in a court in Johor, has been charged with another two counts of similar allegations involving an amount close to RM2.8mil in a Sessions Court here on Wednesday.

Supt Azmi Osman, 52, was charged with committing the offences between Feb 6, 2002 and Oct 2, 2003.

He was said to have committed the offences at Malayan Banking Berhad, No 1, Jalan Haji Kassim, Mentakab.

Supt Azmi claimed trial to both charges.

In the first charge, he was accused of accepting RM2,093,300, received from illegal activities, into his bank account on Feb 6, 2002, and Dec 20, 2002.

Supt Azmi was also accused of accepting RM683,850, received from illegal activities, into the same account on Jan 7, 2003, and Oct 2, 2003.

The charges were read before Sessions Judge Ishak Bakri.

The accused was charged under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 and if convicted, he could be fined up to RM5mil, or jailed up to five years, or both, for each charge.

Supt Azmi was represented by counsel C.N. Sritharan while leading the prosecution was Anti-Money Laundering and Forfeiture of Property Unit head Dzulkifli Ahmad, who was assisted by Muhd Saifuddin Hashim Musaimi.

Bail was fixed at RM100,000 with one surety for each charge and Supt Azmi's international passport was impounded by the court.

The court also allowed Dzulkifli's application for the cases to be transferred to Sessions Court in Johor Baru and be heard together with Supt Azmi's three other charges.

It then fixed Oct 31 for the cases to be re-mentioned in the Johor court.

Earlier, Dzulkifli applied for bail be set at RM200,000 with one surety.

However, Sritharan, who took 15 minutes to present his argument, asked for the sum to be reduced on the grounds that his client was already facing three charges and needed to pay a bail of RM200,000.

He assured the court that Supt Azmi would not run away because the accused was required to report to the disciplinary board every week until all the cases were settled.

Supt Azmi was later seen leaving the court with his lawyer around noon after posting his bail.

On Tuesday, the senior police officer was charged with three counts of laundering almost RM1.3mil.

The amount of money he was said to have received from illegal activities now totals more than RM4mil.

Superintendent arrested in Shah Alam

Tuesday September 25, 2007

By LOURDES CHARLES

KUALA LUMPUR: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has arrested a police superintendent for allegedly amassing RM9mil in cash and property while still in service.

The officer, in his late 40s and once in charge of the anti-vice and gamming division of a state, is expected to be charged today.

One of the charges is under the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

It is learnt that ACA officers picked up the officer at his house in Shah Alam yesterday morning after he was discharged from hospital.

ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan confirmed the arrest but declined to elaborate as investigations were still in progress.

Sources said the officer had been on the police and ACA radar for the past two years and was directed to declare all his assets early this year.

He is said to have omitted listing down quite a number of his assets. Among the assets he is said to have amassed are several houses, shoplots and a substantial amount of shares in firms.

The sources said the officer was removed from state post and transferred to Bukit Aman recently and assigned to a desk job pending the investigations.

The arrest of the officer is said to be the beginning of more as police and ACA step up their fight against corrupt practices.

It has been reported that several other senior police officers were under investigation for various corrupt practices and would be called in soon to assist in investigations.

Independent panel to probe lawyer video

Tuesday September 25, 2007

MYT 7:32:43 PM

By V.P. SUJATHA

PUTRAJAYA: A special independent panel has been formed to probe and determine the authenticity of the video tape showing a senior lawyer purportedly brokering judges' appointments, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The three-member panel will be headed by former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor. National Service Council chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and former Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar are the other two members.

Najib said panel member, who had accepted their appointments, would soon start investigating the matter with the support and cooperation of all agencies concerned.

Their findings would be made public later, he added.

Bar calls for royal inquiry

Sunday September 23, 2007

By SHAILA KOSHY

'Probe allegations of judicial impropriety over the years'

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar wants the Government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry immediately to investigate allegations of judicial impropriety over the years in light of the video clip that has emerged showing a lawyer apparently “fixing” the appointment of judges with a senior judge over the telephone.

Serious issue: Bar Council officer-bearers (from left) treasurer George Varughese, Lim, Ambiga and Ragunath listening to a question posed during the press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“The video clip is just one issue (on appointments and promotions). Members have expressed their grave concern.

“We have gone from one crisis to another since the 1988 judicial crisis; it is time to confront fully and completely all the issues that have arisen since then with a view to strengthen the administration of justice,” Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan told a press conference yesterday.

She added that the Bar would present a memorandum calling for a Royal Commission to the Cabinet on Wednesday in Putrajaya.

Earlier, the Bar convened an emergency council meeting that was attended by 25 of the 36 members of its governing body.

“We are also proposing an extraordinary general meeting for 3pm on Oct 6 to discuss the state of the judiciary as well as the clip,” Ambiga, who is also council chairman, told reporters after the meeting.

“We are referring the lawyer in the clip to our disciplinary board, chaired by senior lawyer Tan Sri Khalid Ahmad,” she replied when asked if it had considered asking the lawyer to explain himself before it even called for the Oct 6 meeting.

Ambiga said the recent incident only underscored the need for a judicial commission for transparency in the appointments and promotions of judges.

When asked the need for a Royal Commission since the public continued to use the courts despite the various crises, she said: “No doubt many cases are filed but the public has no choice (but to do so) to resolve their issues. All that shows is how important the courts are. It is necessary to note that there are many good hardworking judges and it is in their interest that the entire system is looked it.

“Many are opting for arbitration but that involves a lot of money and the man in the street has no choice but to go to court.”

Asked when the disciplinary board would convene, she said the board acted independently of the council.

Council secretary Lim Chee Wee added that the senior judge implicated had issued a statement, saying “no comment.”

Asked what the Bar would do if nothing developed from the authorities’ investigation, Ambiga said that would be unacceptable.

“The outrage you see in our website and the response you’ve heard from civil society shows the people are fed-up,” stressed vice-chairman Ragunath Kesavan.

“This latest is a watershed for us. Clearly, something is seriously wrong in the judiciary.”

Referring to her press statement, Ambiga said they hoped the focus would not turn against the whistleblower.

PM: Get to the bottom of video clip

Saturday September 22, 2007

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.