Lawyer Wee Choo Keong is pessimistic that his client VK Thirunama Karasu would be summoned by the royal commission of inquiry into the VK Lingam tape.

Speaking to reporters after the commission heard the testimony of former chief justice Eusoff Chin today, Wee ( photo, left ) said it is important that Thirunama ( photo, right ) be called to shed light on the alleged ‘closeness’ between Eusoff and lawyer Lingam, who is Thirunama’s estranged brother.

The chances of that happening now seems “slim” given the commission’s apparent reluctance to hear Thirunama’s side of the story, said Wee.

“From the very beginning, I was having problems getting him (called). They were finding excuses after excuses. By right they should hear him (Thirunama) first. It would then be easier for everybody to cross-examine him. Then we’ll know the facts,” he said.

“Now the facts are only restricted to Eusoff. This is very strange."

According to Wee and Thirunama, who was also present, the latter can prove the closeness between Eusoff and Lingam and has knowledge of particular incidences to illustrate their relationship.

Among them, they said, was the December 1994 holiday that both Eusoff and Lingam took to New Zealand.

Eusoff has always maintained his innocence, a stance he asserted this morning as a witness when he described his relationship with Lingam as nothing out of the ordinary .

“It was a normal relationship. Not a close one,” Eusoff told the commission.

‘They had dinner together’

Thirunama, however, claims he also knows of a dinner Lingam had hosted in 1995 at the lawyer's house in which Eusoff and his family were present together with then Court of Appeal president and his wife.

Thirunama further cited the errands he claimed he had carried out previously delivering packages from Lingam to Eusoff.

On numerous occasions, he claimed that he had driven Lingam to Eusoff’s house for midnight meetings.

Wee noted that two of the five terms of reference with which the commission is to conduct its inquiry is to ascertain the truth or otherwise of the content of the video-clip and to determine whether any misbehaviour has been committed by person or persons identified or mentioned in the clip.

For this purpose, he said it is vital for the commission to hear Thirunama’s testimony and only then deliberate as to “what is important and what is not important.”

“(Now) they’re trying to stop him (from testifying). I don’t understand why,” he added.

Earlier during the inquiry this morning, Wee’s attempt to have Thirunama called was declined by the commission. Commissioner Mahadev Shankar told Wee that his application would be considered only after Eusoff had given his testimony.

Wee succeeded, however, in tendering to the commission a photograph ( right ) of Lingam and Eusoff and their wives which was taken during their New Zealand holiday.

Anwar’s appearance

On another matter, a lawyer for former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim was directed by the commission to obtain his client’s written statement so that the commission can decide when he would be called to testify.

Lawyer M Puravelan had requested the commission to expedite Anwar’s appearance as the latter is scheduled to be in Hong Kong from next Tuesday.

Puravalen said yesterday his client believes he can assist the commission by filling in the gaps in former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s statement.

Mahathir had claimed that he could not remember or recall the events that took place seven years ago.

Puravelan also submitted a statement, from one of the two ‘ secret witnesses ’ to the commission this morning.

Yesterday, the lawyer said the two ‘secret witnesses’ were prepared to give crucial evidence on judicial fixing and corruption.

The statement from the other witness is “on the way”, Puravelan told the commission.

The controversial ‘VK Lingam’ video, which was secretly filmed in December 2001, was released by Anwar last September.