Bar Council to take action against lawyer in video recording

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bar Council is moving to take disciplinary action against the lawyer caught on video in 2002 for allegedly seeking to influence judicial appointments.

Sources said the lawyer's alleged misconduct was the only agenda set for an emergency council meeting called for tomorrow, following the video recording's release on Thursday.

"The video tape issue and the action to be taken against the lawyer will be discussed at the meeting," a source said.

The Bar Council, as the complainant, would refer the matter to the Disciplinary Board set up under the Legal Profession Act 1976.

The council would first issue a show-cause letter to the respondent for an explanation, which, if unsatisfactory, would then be referred to the board.
The board will set up a disciplinary committee to hear the case, which will then forward its recommendations.

Those found guilty of misconduct under Section 103 of the Act could be fined, suspended or struck off the rolls.

The respondent can appeal to the High Court against the board's decision.

Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee chairman R. Ravindra Kumar called for "an immediate and thorough investigation by the police and Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) of the protagonist on the video and all the persons named, as well as all matters raised that are warranted".

Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) handed over evidence, including the video clip, to Federal Territory ACA director Abu Zubir Mohd Hassan at the latter's office yesterday.

PKR vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah said in a statement that he had handed over an eight-minute copy of a video clip, a one-minute audio recording and a copy of a press statement dated Sept 19 issued by the party on Thursday.

Source: The New Straits Times


Comments from the Deputy Prime Minister:

Establish if lawyer brokering video is authentic first: Najib

SUBANG: The Government will have to first establish the authenticity of the video footage of a senior lawyer brokering the appointment of judges, before deciding on any action, said the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Najib said he personally had not seen the footage.

However, he stressed that it was important to establish the veracity of the footage "before jumping to any conclusion."

"Modern day technology can also be abused and fabricated. So before we conclude anything let us establish whether there is basis or not," Najib told reporters after launching the Malaysia Airlines Engineering Training Center here on Friday.

Asked if an investigation on the matter would be carried out, he said: "We have to establish it first. Then whatever it is, we will decide at the next stage."

To a question, Najib said he had "not formally" spoken to Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim about the matter.

Probed further on whether he had engaged in communication with the Chief Justice, Najib said: "I think you better ask the Chief Justice, in this regard."

On Wednesday, Parti Keadilan Rakyat released a videoclip, purportedly shot in 2002, which it obtained recently of the lawyer talking on the telephone to someone who seemed to be a senior judge about how he (the lawyer) had helped get this judge appointed to one of the top judiciary posts.

According to the telephone conversation, the appointment was done through a prominent businessman and a politician.

The lawyer was heard saying that he was working through the two persons to get the judge elevated even further and get him a “Tan Sri” title. The names of a number of prominent judges were also mentioned in the video.

Source: The Star Online

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