The new Attorney-General Ainum Mohd Saaid must reopen the case on just retired Chief Justice Eusoff Chin concerning various allegations regarding his misconduct, DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said today.

Lim said that Ainum should reopen the case to show that the investigations into the matter had been independent, impartial, thorough and professional.

Ainum, who is currently the deputy chief executive of the Securities Commission, has been appointed the new Attorney-General for a two-year term from Jan 1. She will replace Mohtar Abdullah whose term of service expires at the end of the year.

On Nov 17, Mohtar said the investigations regarding Eusoff had been "closed for the time being" as no evidence had been found to indicate any wrongdoing by the Chief Justice.

He said that the matter was considered closed after a full scale investigation by the AG's Chambers and other relevant authorities such as the police and the Anti-Corruption Agency.([#1] No case against CJ in 'controversial' NZ holiday [/#], Nov 17)

The allegations of misconduct against Eusoff were made after photographs were posted on the Internet in 1984 showing him on holiday with lawyer VK Lingam in New Zealand in 1994 with both their families.

Eusoff's contract of service expires today and he will be replaced by Federal Court judge Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah tomorrow.

Investigation 'flawed'

Lim said that Ainum must reopen the case as the previous investigation under Mohtar did not comply with the principles of accountability and transparency.

"Mohtar had failed to give satisfactory explanation for the discrepancy between Eusoff's claim that he had 'bumped' accidentally into Lingam in New Zealand and Internet postings showing evidence that they had actually travelled together to New Zealand," said Lim.

Lim added the Internet postings allegedly showed that Eusoff and Lingam had travelled together on the same New Zealand Airways flight NZ73 from Singapore to Auckland on Dec 22, 1994, and on flight NZ1541 between Auckland and Christchurch later that day.

Lim also said that the previous investigation was flawed as Mohtar himself had admitted going for a holiday to Italy in 1994 with Lingam.

Surprise appointment

Lim also said that Ainum's appointment came as a surprise as she was "comparatively unknown in the legal circles as she had not practised in the Bar or actively handled court cases during her years in legal service".

Ainum, who is set to become the first woman AG, had served with the AG's Chambers for 26 years from July 1970 to January 1996, holding the third highest ranking post there as the parliamentary draftsman. The top two posts are of the AG and the Solicitor-General.

Ainum had also briefly held the post of head of prosecution from October 1994 to March 1995.

From July 1990 to October 1991, she was seconded to the World Bank as a counsel in the private sector development group.