The Bar Council does not tap the telephones of its members as alleged by a Court of Appeal judge recently, said council chairman Sulaiman Abdullah today.

He said that a thorough investigation of past and present council practices carried out following the allegation made by justice Mokhtar Sidin revealed that the council has never caused or participated in the tapping of telephones of any lawyers.

"The Bar Council has no expertise or experience in this area. Neither does it have any desire to participate in such activities particularly as they are illegal," said Sulaiman in a statement.

Mokhtar, while recently hearing an appeal from a lawyer who was found to be in contempt of court for not having a practising certificate, said he knew that the council tapped the telephones of lawyers.

When counsel for the council objected to this allegation, Mokhtar, who was also the chairman of the lawyers disciplinary board then, stood by his claims.

Clarification not forthcoming

Sulaiman said that Mokhtar's allegations dismayed the legal profession, the Bar and the staff of the council's secretariat.

He also added that the council had written to Mokhtar a number of times as well as speaking to the judge to clarify this matter.

"He stated that he had been misreported and he meant to say the Bar Council always monitors the activities of lawyers. He stated that he would write to the council to this effect," said Sulaiman.

Until today, however, Sulaiman said, the council has yet to receive any letter carrying a retraction or clarification from the judge over this matter.