VK Lingam's estranged brother has made two police reports providing further allegations of judicial corruption and reveal inside information of the senior lawyer's cozy relationship with top judges, some of whom have since retired.


 VK Thirunama Karasu, 50, also claimed that the police had refused to take further action on his first report, resulting in him making a second report three days later at another police station.


 <img align="left" height="310" hspace="5" src="http://corp.malaysiakini.com/cms/ib/data/3/97/24347.jpg" width="220"/>
 Thirunama first lodged his report at Kelana Jaya police station in Selangor on March 16 this year against elder brother Lingam (
 
 left
 
 ) and several others for alleged corruption.


 A second report was filed at Brickfields police on March 19 because, according to Thirunama, the investigating officer in Kelana Jaya had refused to record his statements in detail.


 In the second report, Thirunama who said he is an electrician claimed he was "used" by Lingam to corrupt ex-chief justice Eusoff Chin, former attorney-general Mohtar Abdullah, a former police chief, and several senior judges.


 These include present and former judges from the Court of Appeal and the Industrial Court.


 Thirunama also claimed he had witnessed his brother whom he referred to as Dato V Kanagalingam hand over a RM50,000 cheque to a former head of the Industrial Court.


 <img align="left" height="64" hspace="5" src="http://corp.malaysiakini.com/cms/ib/data/2/100/25036.jpg" width="64"/>
 Copies of the report were released this morning to the media by lawyer Wee Choo Keong at a press conference held at the Petaling Jaya office of the opposition Malaysia Democratic Party, which he is party secretary-general.


 The shocking development comes two months after a video clip emerged showing Lingam in a phone conversation purportedly with then chief judge of Malaya Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim discussing the appointment of 'friendly' judges.


 Ahmad Fairuz has denied being the person on the other end.


 Rumours had circulated for some time that Thirunama and Lingam had a falling out, but it is not known when exactly the relationship soured.


 Wee, however, emphasised that the whistleblowers who gave the 'Lingam tape' to former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim who first exposed the video clip on Sept 19 are not the ones behind Thirunama's police report, which was made six months before the tape emerged.


 Wee added that it was Thirunama himself who contacted him about 10 days ago to inform him about the police reports and requested his assistance on the matter public. Wee declined to state where Thirunama is currently, citing concerns for his safety.


 
 
 Midnight meetings
 
 


 In his report, Thirunama alleged he had on separate occasions been instructed to buy handphones with money provided by Lingam and give them to a number of top judges, including Eusoff.


 Thirunama also claimed that in 1996, Lingam had also given him cash in order to settle the handphone bill of then inspector-general of police.


 In that same year, Thirunama said he had also returned an "old heavy briefcase" that was in Lingam's possession to its owner, who is now a judge in the Court of Appeal.


 A large part of the report deals with alleged instances that indicate Lingam's close relationship with Eusoff.


 Among them, Thirunama said Lingam had hosted a dinner in 1995 at the lawyer's house in Kelana Jaya. Eusoff and his family were present at the dinner together with then Court of Appeal president and his wife, said Thirunama.


 He also said that he acted as his brother's driver and on numerous occasions drove Lingam to Eusoff's house for midnight meetings.


 "Whenever I sent my brother, Dato V Kanagalingam, to Eusoff Chin's house, he, Dato VK, will be carrying a very big bundle of files and when I go back to pick him up, he will be carrying back a single file.


 "I usually sent my brother, Dato V Kanagalinam, at about 11:30pm and pick him up at about 12:30pm to 1am," said Thirunama.


 In 1996, Thirunama said he delivered a new leather briefcase to Eusoff which contained some documents as well as other gifts - a wallet and a woman's leather handbag.


 
 <img align="left" height="203" hspace="5" src="http://corp.malaysiakini.com/cms/ib/data/4/46/11502.jpg" width="300"/>
 Malaysiakini
 
 had earlier reported that the Lingam and Eusoff as well as their respective families
 
 <a href="/news/2760" target="_blank">
 spent a holiday together
 </a>
 
 in New Zealand 13 years ago. Photos (
 
 left
 
 ) of the duo in New Zealand had appeared on the Internet for many years.


 
 
 Perwaja scandal
 
 


 Relating an incident in 1996, Thirunama alleged that upon being informed of an investigation into Lingam's involvement in the Perwaja Steel scandal, Lingam had told Thirunama and several others to deposit several cheques and cash money into various bank accounts within Malaysia as well as in London.


 Thirunama said RM275,000 was deposited into his own account, while RM300,000 was placed into five separate accounts of RM60,000 each.


 In addition, RM100,000 in cash was kept by a sister at her house in Petaling Jaya, he alleged.


 Lingam was the legal counsel for Perwaja, a state-owned steel company which had been accused of financial irregularities.


 Thirunama also said that in 1998, he had made three separate statements to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) pertaining to alleged corrupt acts by Lingam.


 While he maintained the veracity of two statements, one had been false, said Thirunama. But he did not provide further details on why he lied to the ACA.


 However, on at least one occasion in 1997, Thirunama said he was forced to sign a statutory declaration that had been prepared by Lingam and another brother.


 Thirunama also said that Lingam had threatened retribution against him and his family if Thirunama told the ACA about his dealings with the judges, the police force and others.


 "I fear for my life and the safety of my family," he said in his report.


 When asked why Thirunama had approached him in particular, Wee said he was himself surprised. Perhaps Thirunama did not have confidence in the other parties, said Wee.


 "He should have gone to the other opposition leaders, (those) of some stature who can bring up matters in Parliament."


 
 
 Related report
 
 


 
 <a href="/news/73124" target="_blank">
 Who is VK Lingam?
 </a>
 


 <a href="/news/72772" target="_blank">
 SPECIAL REPORT: The Lingam tape
 </a>


 
 
 Watch 9-min video of Wee Choo Keong's press conference

<img align="left" height="64" hspace="5" src="http://corp.malaysiakini.com/cms/ib/data/11/97/24377.gif" width="64"/>
 breaking news
 

VK Lingam's estranged brother claims he was party to alleged corruption involving ex-chief justice Eusoff Chin, several senior judges as well as top legal and police officers.

 
 [VIDEO INSIDE]

More allegations of judicial graft emerge

~RM12

Share

ABOUT

DIGITAL NETWORK

TERMS OF USE

GENERAL LINE

SUBSCRIPTION / TECH SUPPORT

EDITORIAL

LOCATION

RSS FEEDS

DAILY NEWS DIGEST