I refer to the Malaysiakini report Lingam tape: more judges implicated .

Lingam’s erstwhile brother V Thirunama Karasu has dropped a bombshell at the royal inquiry when he mentioned several other judges, both retired and one still serving in the bench who are alleged to be on the payroll of the senior lawyer.

Much dirty linen had been washed before the inquiry earlier and internal politics between the previous top judges have caused much embarrassment as backbiting and petty issues like the conferment of federal awards came to the fore. It makes one wonder of the quality of our judges today.

Those names implicated by Lingam’s brother need to clear their names as it will besmirch the image of the judiciary if they remain silent. As it is right now, the people’s perception is that our courts are full of judges who can be bought and cases can be fixed if the price is right. This does not speak well of our justice system which was once a proud institution where the public could expect a fair judgments in any dispute.

The public expects the ACA to investigate diligently the allegations made by various witnesses at the inquiry against the judiciary. If we do not clean up our judiciary of corrupt judges, it might lead to riots on the streets if people cannot expect justice from the courts. Not forgetting foreign investors who will not put their money in a country where justice can be bought or fixed by third parties.

Eusoff Chin and Ahmad Fairuz, the former chief justices of our court, have brought much shame to the judiciary for as much as they denied being close to Lingam, records have shown otherwise. To have top judges having more than a professional relationship with lawyers who appear before them is difficult to fathom. Judges should know the limit and maintain the decorum of the high office that they hold.

After nearly 20 years when three senior judges was removed from office, the ghost of the judicial past seems to haunt us and we now have two retired chief justices in the dock answering evasively when asked pointed questions regarding their close relationship with Lingam

I suppose it would take another decade before the integrity of our justice system can be restored. Presently most of the judges in the appeal and federal courts are made up of cronies of the previous chief justice. They are there because not because of their great legal acumen but due to their close relationship with their former boss.And that is a real shame to our justice system.