A police report has been filed against Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram accusing him of committing perjury when testifying at a civil suit earlier this year.

The report was filed by his former legal partner, senior lawyer C Vijaya Kumar, with the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters on Monday.

It is learnt that another report has been filed with Chief Justice Zaki Azmi over the matter.

This is the first time that a police report has been filed against a Federal Court judge.

gopal sri ram In the report, a copy of which was made available to Malaysiakini , the lawyer alleged that Gopal ( right ) had lied under oath when the latter claimed that he paid tax for the sum of RM700,000 which he received from his previous legal firm Sri Ram & Co.

The law firm had made the payment via its Bank of Tokyo account on July 16, 1996. The payment was part of the terms agreed upon as incentive for Gopal to divest his interests in the law firm.

However, Vijaya said: "Particulars contained in the tax return and notice of assessment for the relevant year does not disclose the said income."

Therefore, he claimed that the senior judge had committed perjury, an offence punishable under Section 193 of the Penal Code and carries a maximum jail term of seven years and fine.

"For the same reasons, Gopal has also violated the Income Tax Act 1967," he added in the report.

Gopal, who was elevated from the Court of Appeal to the apex court earlier this year, is scheduled to retire next year from the Federal Court.

He was the longest serving appellate court judge, having been appointed from the Bar in 1994 before his promotion earlier this year.

Legal tussle over library books

Previously, Gopal had filed a claim against his former law firm for the books in its library. Vijaya Kumar then retaliated by filing a counter-claim.

NONE Inland Revenue Board officers were called in by Vijaya Kumar's lawyers to testify during the trial to divulge details on Gopal's tax payments.

The officers however refused to disclose details without Gopal's consent.

On Aug 14, judicial commissioner Harmindar Singh Dhaliwall dismissed Gopal's claim and ruled that the propriety and possession of the law library are vested in Vijaya Kumar.

He however, dismissed Vijaya Kumar's counter-claim of RM252,000.

Gopal had filed an appeal over the decision while Vijaya Kumar filed a cross-appeal.

Vijaya Kumar had also filed a commercial suit against the judge over alleged unpaid loans owed to the firm. The matter is still pending trial.

However, Vijaya Kumar's affidavit over the matter claimed he had studied the tax returns between 1995 to 2004 and it was clear that Gopal did not disclose chargeable income in the returns.

"No distributable profits, receivables and returns on investment were declared as part of his chargeable income," stated the lawyer.

It is learnt Vijaya Kumar had also written to Zaki asking that a special tribunal be set-up to hear the disciplinary misconduct.

This case could potentially be explosive for the judiciary, as the public generally holds judges in high regard.