KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25, 2009 — Malaysianinsider - By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
Three out of four persons being investigated in relation to the infamous V. K. Lingam video clip case, have been cleared of graft charges, the prime minister told Parliament today.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi told Wee Choo Keong (PKR-Wangsa Maju) in a written reply that the three cases had been marked “NFA” — which means no further action will be taken.
The file on one of the four persons originally investigated remain open. The PM did not name any of the four persons.
Abdullah said there was insufficient evidence to charge the three persons under the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.
The Lingam video clip was widely circulated on the Internet in 2007.
In the grainy clip, Lingam is recorded having a telephone conversation apparently with a minister and appears to be brokering judicial appointments.
The video clip which was recorded by Loh Gwo Burne, who is now the PKR MP for Kelana Jaya, sparked a major public outcry.
A Royal Commission was set up to investigate the videp clip but the findings were inconclusive regarding Lingam’s role in any alleged brokering of judicial appointment.
During the hearing, Lingam famously said “it looks like me, it sounds like me,” when questioned if he was indeed the man in the clip.
The V. K. Lingam video clip scandal was a significant contributing factor towards the Barisan Nasional (BN) government’s poor performance in last year’s general elections.
Four investigation files were opened by anti-corruption officers, the prime minister said in Parliament today.
Three of the cases were “deferred” to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, while one was marked “NFA” by the director of the legal and prosecution department in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Of the three cases “deferred” to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, two were marked “NFA” while the remaining case remains open.
Wee told reporters later that the director of the legal and prosecution department did not have the power to decide on a case but to only investigate.
“This is unheard of and first time as a lawyer. Why are they taking so long? The last time they said that the paper has already been sent but now they say it is for further investigation,” he said.
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