Two Anti-Corruption Agency officials today told the royal commission on the VK Lingam tape that the room featured in the video clip was indeed the lawyer’s living room.

ACA senior assistant enforcement officer Shahadan Mohd Yatim, 53, said he had compared the photographs he took of the room in Lingam’s Kelana Jaya house with the video clip and concluded that the place where the phone conversation took place was the same.

The ACA officer with 30 years experience said he had taken 17 pictures in the living room of Lingam’s Kelana Jaya house in the morning on Dec 25.

“He showed the room to me. He didn’t ask me why I was taking the pictures, I think he already knew why I was there,” he told the commission.

Shahadan’s superior Chuah Lay Choo who testified next, confirmed she had given him instructions to take the picture.

She also showed the commission the copy of the video clip in a compact disc that was given to her on Dec 19 last year.

The inquiry then proceeded to play full 14 minute video on the four LCD screens placed in the courtroom.

Anti-Corruption Agency prosecution chief Nordin Hassan, who is assisting the commission, also used the screens for Chuah to compare the pictures with various scenes from the video.

Chuah affirmed that the pictures matched the background of the video where Lingam was seen brokering the appointment of judges back in late 2001.

Chuah also revealed that the full video was given to CyberSecurity Malaysia to be authenticated on Dec 26 last year and was returned back to her two days ago.

Ranjit Singh who held watching brief for the Malaysian Bar had requested for Chuah to identify the individuals in the video clip since she has met Lingam when visiting his house.

Ranjit also requested for the transcript done by her to be compared with the copy which the Bar Council had transcribed.

Commission member and former Court of Appeal judge Mahadev Shanker then said the questions should be asked together. Commission chairperson Haidar Mohd Noor subsequently adjourned the session to tomorrow.

Seeking contempt proceeding

On another matter, Lingam’s lawyer R Thayalan said that contempt proceeding should be initiated against businessman Loh Mui Fah for giving press interviews on his role in the video clip instead of giving statement to the commission.

“It was an act of disrespect to the commission by bringing it to the press first,” he said.

On Saturday, Loh revealed to Malaysiakini detailed accounts of the video including what exactly took place and his son’s involvement in filming that clip.

However, commission member Steve Shim Lip Kiong replied that the commission will consider Thayalan’s application when Loh testifies tomorrow.

Thayalan also tried to cast doubt on the authenticity of the video shown by asking Chuah if the compact disc version that was given to her was a copy or in its original form.

The royal commission of inquiry into the Lingam tape which began today is being held in an unused Kuala Lumpur High Court room and is scheduled to end on Jan 25.

Nordin said that 16 witnesses will be called. Among those listed include former Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, businessman Vincent Tan, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Anwar is also expected to testify tomorrow.

Commission’s task

Journalists and members of the public had lined up for passes as early as 7.30am. Many were denied entry after the 20 passes allocated for the public ran out.

When the hearing began at 10am, the courtroom was packed with journalists, lawyers and members of the public whose seats were designated by labels on the courtroom chairs.

The five commissioners - Haidar, Shim, Suhakam commissioner Dr Khoo Kay Kim, former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Steve Shim and former solicitor-general Zaitun Zawiyah Puteh - are assisted by PM's department legal affairs division director-general Abdullah Sani who acts as the secretary for the commission.

A team of minute-takers are also present to assist in compiling the hearings for the commission to come up with their report later.

The commission was set up to ascertain the authenticity of the video clip; identify the persons in the video clip; ascertain the truth or otherwise of the content of the conversation in the video clip, determine whether there is any misconduct and to recommend appropriate action against the person or persons identified in the video clip if there is misconduct.