Senior lawyer VK Lingam's application for a review of Federal Court's finding on Sept 26 that his medical certificate was forged has been fixed for hearing at the apex court on Nov 6.

Lingam claimed that the finding was biased or bordering to a real danger of bias.

In the same application, he will also seek to disqualify six judges from hearing the contempt proceeding against him which is scheduled to be heard on Nov 8.

The six Federal Court judges are Justices Suriyadi Halim Omar, Abu Samah Nordin, Ramly Ali, Azahar Mohamed, Balia Yusof Wahi and Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Lingam confirmed the hearing dates and added that alternatively, he would apply for a stay of the Nov 8 proceeding.

On Sept 26, the apex court made a ruling that the medical report from a United States hospital in support of Lingam's absence from a contempt proceeding was forged.

'Unfit for long durations of travel'

The report, dated May 10, this year, said that Lingam, 66, was unfit for long durations of travel, including by flight, as a result of a hip fracture and back pain he suffered.

The finding of fact by the Federal Court bench led by Justice Suriyadi followed a disclosure by senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh that Lingam had renewed his passport in London on June 14, this year – a month after the medical report was issued.

Lingam, who was also implicated for judicial fixing by a Royal Commission of Inquiry in 2007, was cited for contempt four years ago, for claiming that an apex court judge had plagiarised his judgment in the Kian Joo Can Factory (KJCF) Bhd case.

The same bench on Sept 26 also fined two minority shareholders of the KJCF, Lim Ah Eng, 88, and Doris See Siew Lim, in her 70s – RM100,000 each, or eight months’ jail, after maintaining their guilt of contempt.

In November last year, the Federal Court fined 12 majority and eight minority shareholders of the KJCF RM100,000 each, while a lawyer acting for the latter was fined RM150,000, or a year's jail in default.

Lingam said he was shocked and astonished with the Federal Court's finding that his medical certificate was forged.

In a statement to Malaysiakini, the lawyer said he would file a review to challenge the ruling and claimed that he was denied the opportunity to defend himself.

Forgery is a criminal offence, Lingam added, and therefore the burden of proof must be beyond reasonable doubt, the same standard which he said must be applied in this case.