Embattled senior lawyer VK Lingam was today quizzed by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) in Putrajaya over allegations of judicial misconduct made by his younger brother.

He had two separate sessions with the ACA officials - one in the morning for about 90 minutes from 10am and another from 2.50pm to 6.30pm.

On both occasions, the lawyer tried to evade the waiting journalists.

However, when leaving the ACA headquarters this evening, Lingam (right) told journalists that he was there to furnish evidence on his brother VK Thirunama Karasu's mental illness.

He refused to comment on 'the Lingam tape', but reiterated his earlier stand that he would cooperate with the royal commission, which is to be set up by the government to probe the state of the judiciary.

"That's the right forum for me to answer. I don't have to answer every Tom, Dick and Harry. I am here on the matter involving my brother," he said.

He also said that he did not know the person who recorded his phone conversation with purportedly the then chief judge of Malaya Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim.

'Sick man'

Lingam neither confirmed nor denied if he was the person depicted in the video clip, but repeated that he would address such matters during the royal commission.

Asked if he is denying the allegations made by Thirunama, Lingam said his brother's allegations were "completely false and untrue".

Lingam maintained that Thirunama (left) was being manipulated by certain unnamed quarters for political mileage.

He claimed that his brother was seeking to blackmail him with the accusations in return for money and a luxury car. Thirunama had been called by the ACA in 1998 to give statement based on reports lodged to the agency in that year alleging his brother's involvement in judicial corruption.

"I don't entertain extortion. That's why he lodged the police reports."

Lingam described Thirunama as a "sick man" who had a tendency to commit physical violence.

He also alleged that Thirunama had physically hurt his wife, another brother as well as their two sisters and a sister-in-law.

To back his claim, Lingam distributed copies of a medical report prepared by Dr Deva Dass of Deva Dass Specialist Clinic in Petaling Jaya.

According to the doctor, Thirunama had been highly "depressed with strong suicidal intentions, insomnia, crying spells and guilt". The report recommended that he be admitted into a hospital for further treatment.

On why he did not lodge a counter-report against Thirunama, Lingam said the onus was on the police to determine the veracity of his brother's report.

"It is for the police to investigate if it's false... I don't want to waste time on a psychiatric patient," he said.

File reopened

Earlier today, ACA director of investigations Mohd Shukri Abdull confirmed that Lingam was called in to give statement in relation to claims made by his estranged brother.

He added that Lingam's visit today was not related to the agency's investigations into the Lingam tape.

ACA deputy director-general Abu Kassim Mohammad also said that Lingam was recalled to give statement to the reports lodged by Thirunama nine years ago.

He added that although investigations on the matter were concluded and the findings had been forwarded to the attorney-general, the agency could still take further statements from anyone in the event of a new development.

"There are a few things that have cropped up now and we have to ask him (Lingam) about it," he said.

He also said that Lingam has been questioned by the ACA "a few times".

Abu Kassim however declined to answer whether investigations on the video clip had concluded.

According to Lingam, the ACA was probing a new allegation by his brother that he gave RM50,000 to a former Industrial Court chairman.

"The RM50,000 which I paid him in 1995 was a bonus for his services," said the lawyer.

Lingam added that he had provided ACA his income tax documents to proof the payment.

"It was a lawful payment, not corruption."

As for all the other allegations, the ACA had thoroughly investigated all the documents in his house and law firm as well as questioning his staff and family members in 1998.

"It was a full search. They even checked my legal files and bank accounts. They interviewed my wife, maid and bodyguard as well as other individuals named in the reports.

"To my knowledge, the ACA had cleared me," he said.

Central figure

Lingam is the central figure in an on-going controversy sparked by a video clip showing him having a telephone conversation, allegedly in 2002, on the appointment of 'friendly' judges.

The person at the other end of the phone line is believed to be Ahmad Fairuz, who retired as the chief justice on Oct 31.

It was earlier reported that the ACA had recorded statements from Lingam and subsequently wrapped up its investigations into issues raised in the video clip.

On Sunday, new developments emerged up with Lingam's younger brother, Thirunama, unveiling explosive new evidence against him in police reports made earlier this year.

Thirunama was summoned to the ACA headquarters yesterday to have his statement recorded, in what turned out to be a seven-hour marathon session.

The government has announced that a royal commission of inquiry will be formed, but has yet to decide on the terms of reference and composition.


SPECIAL REPORT: The Lingam tape

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