Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik said that he would let his lawyers handle the case against him and two others brought about by a New York-based Austrian businessman who lodged a police report against them yesterday.

The businessman, Franz C Heldwein lodged the report alleging that business deals he had entered into with Ling, his son Hee Leong and businessman Soh Chee Wen had led to his company incurring losses.

Heldwein, in a report lodged at the Jalan Travers police station in Kuala Lumpur, said he intended to institute legal proceedings to recover his losses.

He later told a press conference that he would file the suit "as soon as we get the papers together".

Heldwein alleged that he lost RM100 million because a deal to supply speed tracking devices for commercial vehicles in 1997 failed to materialise.

Recoup losses

He claimed that Ling and Soh were business partners who had led him into believing that he could secure the deal.

"Now what I want to do is to try and recoup my losses".

Heldwein claimed he tried several times to get in touch with Ling and Soh to recover his losses but never reached them.

Contacted by the New Straits Times yesterday, Ling said: "If it's a legal matter, I'll leave it to my lawyers...we will deal with it at that level."

Asked whether he remembered Heldwein, Ling said he did not.

Meanwhile, Soh was quoted as saying in the Malay Mail today that there was a business dealing between him, Heldwein and Ling. However, he declined to elaborate.

Soh said he would wait until the suit is filed before commenting further.