Friday, October 26, 2007

MORE PICS – ACA Twist on Anwar – Failed to Deliver Video Clip Deadline; Last Laugh on Anwar Ibrahim; No Reminder from ACA to deliver it to Putrajaya

MORE PICS – ACA Twist on AnwarFailed to Deliver Video Clip Deadline; Last Laugh on Anwar Ibrahim; No Reminder from ACA to deliver it to HQ
Malaysiakini was denied this breaking news story which the Print Media have the privilege. They are still ON
ACA no show, Anwar makes U-turn Beh Lih Yi | Oct 25, 07 12:06pm and the
Malaysiakini.tv On Deadline ends: ACA officers no show

ACA officials now smartly attired in their new uniforms seems to to have a smart idea to twist the “cancelled meeting” and now accuse Anwar Ibrahim of failing to deliver the “Original Video Clip” for an Oct 25 2007 deadline. They do not even have to remind him that the onus is one him to deliver it personally.
It was a good trick to play on him by ACA. They came all the way to meet him to record the statements and now they have this twist and laugh on him.
Actually this news item was announced at this morning TV3 news and
not many would have paid attention to it and now Bernama confirmed it with an early morning release - time stamped 1.28 am, Oct 26 2007 which was also too late for the Print Media pages.
Was Anwar caught red handed confirming he wanted to hand over "
only a copy in the form of a 'pen drive' of the missing eight minutes of the original, which is 14 minutes long"? This was probably confirmed by him in the tele-conversation which would have been recorded as evidence against him.

ABOVE: Anwar showing "only a copy in the form of a 'pen drive' of the missing eight minutes of the original, which is 14 minutes long"

October 26, 2007 01:28 AM
Anwar Failed To Meet Video Clip Deadline, Says ACA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) said Thursday that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim failed to meet the deadline given to him to surrender the original recording of a video clip purportedly showing a prominent lawyer trying to broker the appointment of judges in 2002. In a statement issued here shortly before midnight Thursday night, it said the original recording was to be submitted by him to the ACA by Thursday (Oct 25), failing which he is liable to court action Under Section 59 of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.

The statement added that the onus lay with Anwar to deliver the clip at the ACA's headquarters in Putrajaya and not ask ACA officers to come to his office to get it. According to the ACA, the clip Anwar wanted to hand over was only a copy in the form of a 'pen drive' of the missing eight minutes of the original, which is 14 minutes long. Anwar had earlier provided the ACA with a copy of a video clip lasting six minutes allegedly showing the lawyer having a conversation with a senior judge regarding judicial appointments. He claimed to have left out the eight minutes to protect the sources who had given the recording to him. The ACA also denied that its action to get the original recording was politically motivated as alleged by Anwar. It is assisting a three-man independent panel set up by the government to verify the authenticity of the video clip.

= == == == = ===

Oct 25, 2007

M'sian anti-graft body backs down on deadline for Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIAN former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday that anti-graft officials have backed off a threat to jail him for not surrendering a video allegedly showing judicial corruption. Mr Anwar unleashed a furore in September when he released an eight-minute video clip in which a well-connected lawyer purportedly tells a top judge over the telephone that he would push his name forward for a senior appointment. The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) this week ordered Anwar to supply an extended version of the clip by Thursday, or face arrest and a jail sentence of up to two years, and made arrangements to collect it from his office. Mr Anwar refused, saying the extended version would disclose the identity of the whistleblower before their safety and immunity from legal action had been guaranteed.

ABOVE & BELOW: Anwar Ibrahim was upbeat when ACA failed to turn up. The "cancelled meeting" was a trick on him?

'The Anti-Corruption Agency officials contacted me early Thursday to cancel the appointment until further notice.' 'The government's attempt to intimidate me has failed, 'Mr Anwar told reporters. 'I don't understand why they did not turn up,' he said, holding out a flash drive that he said contained the video clip, but declining to specify which version. As some 100 supporters who had gathered at Anwar's offices to witness the looming showdown chanted 'Reformasi' - the battle cry for reform and change - he said he would not be cowed by government intimidation. 'It is clear to me that the issuance of the notice was politically motivated in a futile attempt to create a basis for a potential prosecution,' he said. Mr Anwar was heir apparent to former premier Mahathir Mohamad until his sacking in 1998, when he was hit with sodomy and corruption charges that landed him in jail for six years. The sodomy conviction was overturned but the corruption verdict stands, barring him from standing for public office until April 2008. He is now an adviser to Keadilan, or the People's Justice Party, which is formally led by his wife. -- AFP

ABOVE: Leaving after a very satisfying meeting with press men when the ACA officials called to "cancel meeting" - which turned out to be a trick to "trap" him?

= == = == = =Statement from Anwar Ibrahim from his website

Anwar: ACA Cancels Appointment, VK Lingam Confirms Fairuz On Other Line

25 Oktober 2007

At 11:05 AM the Anti Corruption Agency officer contacted me to cancel today’s appointment with me until further notice. The government’s attempt to intimidate me has failed. There seems to remain some doubt about who exactly is implicated in this videotape. I say before you today with categorical certainty that VK Lingam confirmed Ahmed Fairuz is the man he was speaking to and the “Anwar case” was mentioned.

On Monday 22nd October 2007, I was served a notice under section 22 (1)(b) of the Anti Corruption Act 1997 to deliver to the ACA the original full 14 minute version of the video recording of the VK Lingam – Fairuz conversation. They did this in spite of my telling them that I do not have the tape in my possession.

It is clear to me that the issuance of the notice was politically motivated in a futile attempt to create a basis for a potential prosecution for an offence under the Act. It also appears to be an attempt to intimidate me, Sivarasa, Vice-President of KeADILan and Sim, my special assistant from requiring the authorities to conduct this investigation properly.

A reading of Part IV of the Act clearly demonstrates that it was intended to provide such powers as given in section 22 to investigating officers to allow them to obtain evidence from persons suspected of being INVOLVED in corruption – so that suspects could not hide the evidence and prevent prosecution.

Hence powers were provided to order persons to submit documents and to provide information. The powers were never intended to be used, as the ACA is now doing, to harass and threaten persons who have voluntarily, and in the public interest, DISCLOSED offences of corruption.

The implication for the ACA to be used in this manner is grave. The ACA is losing its credibility and in the future no one will feel confident to lodge a report with the ACA for fear of such unjust retribution. In light of this, my lawyers have advised me to file a legal challenge to set aside the notice. Such abuses of power must be exposed.

This week the media has highlighted some of the recent successes the ACA has enjoyed, particularly with the “Screwdriver” case. But let us not overlook the more serious and yet unresolved cases of the Scopene Submarine, Sukhoi jets, and the Port Klang Free Zone.

Now the investigation of the judicial misconduct appear to be being mishandled and I sense a concerted effort to cover up the evidence. Moreover, the entire investigation would be considered a farce if the Prime Minister continues to insist that Ahmed Fairuz’s term be extended.

I urge the ACA yet again to focus on the real issue of corruption and judicial misconduct appointments disclosed in the video. And I reiterate that the appointment of a Royal Commission will allow us to fully investigate this scandal in a transparent and effective manner.


= == == = == == == = and the HOT News, cold Blodded Murder of 3 Narcotics COPs

October 26, 2007 03:11 AM

Three Cops Killed In Shootout During Anti-Narcotic Operation

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Three police personnel from the Selangor headquarters were killed in a shootout during an anti-narcotic operation in Jalan TS2 Taman Suria, Kampung Desa Aman, Sungai Buloh,

(ABOVE) The house where the Cops were shot at. BELOW; One of the body being taken away

Thursday night. A fourth officer involved in the operation jointly mounted by the federal and Selangor police was seriously injured. Those killed were C/Insp Rajkumar, L/Cpl Alagesan and L/Cpl Jayabalan, in their 30s, while C/Insp Helmi who led the operation with C/Insp Rajkumar was injured (police were not able to give their full names at the time of writing this report).

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan (ABOVE) told reporters at the scene that the shootout happened between 7pm and 7.30pm. He said the four policemen in civilian clothes were about to raid a house where members of an international drug trafficking syndicate were believed hiding when a number of suspects in a Proton Wira and a Nissan Sentra pulled over in front of it and fired several shots at the police. "The suspects then fled in their cars. Jayabalan was killed instantly while Alagesan died on the way to the Sungai Buloh Hospital," he said.The two officers were admitted to the same hospital in critical condition but C/Insp Rajkumar succumbed to his injuries. Musa said all state police contingents had been instructed to set up roadblocks to track down and nab the criminals described as very dangerous. "A closed-circuit camera installed at the entrance of the housing estate where the house was, managed to record images of the cars used by the criminals and we are studying it. They can't go far," he said.

Bernama was told that Jayabalan, who served at the Gombak police headquarters, managed to contact his superiors saying that criminals had ambushed them during the operation.

ABOVE: Neighbours Tan Ee Kuey, 45 and BELOW Irene Chong. recall hearing the shots, rushed out and saw the 4 bodies on the ground.

A neighbour, Tan Ee Kuey, 45, said the house had been occupied over the past two to three months but the occupants were rarely seen at home. "I was having dinner when I heard over 10 explosions outside. When I got out of my house, I saw four people bleeding on the ground in front of the suspects' house. "I helped to carry the injured into a police multipurpose vehicle that pulled up. I could not believe my neighbours were criminals," he told reporters.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

MORE PICS – Day 51 Altantuya Murder Trial; Test on SIrul’s 4WD revealed No Fingerprints; Defense Lawyers Grilled Witness on tests not carried out

Malaysiakini has no coverage on Day 51 of the Murder Trial and its space is devoted to the Anwar confrontation with ACA which did not take place and reported as
ACA no show, Anwar makes U-turn Beh Lih Yi | Oct 25, 07 12:06pm and a new stance from Anwar
Anwar on his change of stance Beh Lih Yi | Oct 25, 07 7:19p

The PKR de facto leader explains why he is now prepared to give the ACA the full version of the ‘Lingam tape’. More

Zaid: Be serious, form royal commission Yoges Palaniappan | Oct 25, 07

Malaysiakini.tv has released the embedded Deadline ends: ACA officers no show

== == == = =

DAY 51 – Altantuya Murder Trial – 24 Oct 2007

Tests conducted after 4WD relocated
R. Surenthira Kumar and Maria J. Dass; theSUN

SHAH ALAM (Oct 24, 2007): Crime scene investigations (CSI) officer Supt Soo Mee Tong (ABOVE) testified in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial today that forensics tests were conducted on a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle after it had been moved from its original location. Under cross examination by defence lawyer Hasnul Rezua Merican, who co- represents Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, Soo agreed with the lawyer’s suggestion that he was unable to ascertain whether contents in the jeep had been contaminated. Soo, who was testifying on the 51st day of the trial in the High Court here before judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin, also agreed he was in no position to control the movements in and around the vehicle before and after the CSI team’s inspection because the 4WD was not under his control.

He told Mohd Zaki the 4WD was already in the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters (IPK KL) and the keys of the vehicle was in the possession of the investigating officer ASP Tonny Lunggan. "For investigations purpose, it would have been ideal if the checks on the 4WD was conducted at its original location," said Soo replying to Hasnul Rezua’s questions on the CSI team’s task. Soo was also asked about the tests he conducted on some blood stains found on the pair of slippers retrieved from the jeep. He said the Kastle-Meyer spot test for blood conducted on blood stains found on the pair of, size 9 or (43) slippers, retrieved from the rear seat of the 4WD, proved positive for blood presence, as the stain turned pinkish in colour due to reaction to the ninhydrin solution. He said although the test was accurate, as the colour changes to pink only when there is blood present, the spot test was only presumptive and not conclusive, thus further tests have to be conducted by the Chemistry department to determine the origin of the blood. Sirul Azhar’s other lawyer, Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin meanwhile grilled Soo on whether he conducted any tests on the slippers to lift for fingerprints. Soo said, based on his experience, there was no necessity to carry out such tests on the slippers as inspections through the naked eye did not reveal the presence of fingerprint grains on the blood stain or the smudges found beside the stain. However he admitted no recommendation was made to the Chemistry Department to carry out tests to lift fingerprints or DNA tests on the pair of slippers. Kamarul Hisham: Because no fingerprint or DNA test was conducted on the slippers, do you agree that the identity of the person who wore the slippers at the time of the incident would never be known?

Soo: Agree.
Prior to that Soo, during the continuation of the examination-in-chief by Deputy Public Prosecutor Hanim Rashid, identified the remaining 13 items retrieved by the CSI team from the 4WD. He said the Super Glue Fuming test was conducted on the rear left seat handle of the 4WD to lift fingerprints, but the results turned out to be negative. Soo said the test could only be conducted in non-porous surfaces which are smooth, as negative results would be obtained if conducted on other kinds of surfaces.

Grilled by Azilah’s lawyer Hazman Ahmad (ABOVE) during cross-examination during the afternoon session, Soo told the court that only items that were relevant to the case were collected from Sirul Azahar’s car as evidence. Hazman had asked Soo why he did not remove some pieces of clothing that were in the back portion of Sirul Azhar’s Suzuki 4WD to be tested as they may have shown that someone else had also used the vehicle. A heated exchange then ensued.
Soo: If someone else clothes were in the car, this does not necessarily mean that this person was in that vehicle.
Hazman: But you did not conduct a test to determine if the clothes were someone else.

Soo: It is not applicable. If you find my clothes in your house this does not mean that I was there. Someone may have put it there.
Hazman: But the possibility is there and you cannot say (for sure) because you have not done a test.

Soo: We only choose the relevant pieces of evidence for our investigations.
Hazman: That is your opinion.

Soo: No, I’m speaking form experience and knowledge.
Hazman: If the clothes were found to belong to another person, was that person there!? There is a possibility?

Soo: Yes, the possibility is there.
Hazman: That’s what I want to hear.

Soo said he had not examined the clothes piece by piece when asked by Hazman if he had done so as DNA test could have been done to determine who the clothes belonged to as long as it was not washed.
Soo agreed with Hazman that the test he and his team conducted on the vehicle was selective.
Asked during re-examination by DPP Hanim Rashid as to why he said that he had done selective tests, Soo said: "If I were to send all the items for testing, then I would need several lorries to transport them, so I have to make the decision to take only the relevant case items."

Judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin then asked him if it was not possible for the items from Sirul Azhar’s 4WD to be transported by vans, to which Soon replied: "The storage of case items is also a problem."
"So this is a logistical problem? Don’t tell me I have to write down that several lorries are needed to transport the items?" said Mohd Zaki.

Soo said he could not determine how long the soil samples from the tyres and bloodstains on the slippers had been there.
"It depends on whether these have been exposed to sunlight, rain or moisture," he said, adding however that he could not tell as he had not seen the structure the vehicle was in.

SHAH ALAM (Oct 24, 2007): All the constant writing of notes by Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin has taken a toll on his fingers which were cramped today.

Mohd Zaki was seen trying to exercise his fingers which were stiff as DPP Hanim Rashid was conducting the re-examination of the prosecution’s 40th witness Supt Soo Me Tong. It is believed that the cold weather, which resulted in the colder air-conditioning, aggravated the problem.
"I think I need a third hand," said Mohd Zaki as the lawyers in the gallery asked him if he wanted to take a short break. However, Mohd Zaki continued.
At the end of re-examination at
4.20pm, DPP Noorin Badaruddin said there was another witness for the day, a doctor from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital who had taken the blood samples, and that she needed another hour for examination in chief. At this juncture the court was adjourned for a short break to allow Mohd Zaki to stretch his fingers. However, five minutes later the lawyers informed the court that hearing had been adjourned to tomorrow morning.

ABOVE: Artist impression of Sirul Azhar BELOW: Abdul Razak BAginda on Day 51 Trial

= == = == = =

= == = == = == = = == = = == brief report via Bernama
October 24, 2007 18:45 PM
No Fingerprints Found In Sirul's SUV

SHAH ALAM, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- No fingerprints were found in Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar's sport utility vehicle (SUV), the High Court here heard today. Fingerprint inspection, however, was not carried on the outer surface of the bluish Suzuki 1300 or on the slippers found in the vehicle. The slippers had "Heat Adswad" written on them. Chemistry division head of the police's forensic laboratory in Cheras, Supt Soo Mee Tong, 51, told the court this when cross examined by

Sirul's lawyer, Hasnal Redzua Merican. Sirul, 36, and another Special Action Squad operative C/Insp Azilah Hadri, 31, are alleged to have murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, 28, in a jungle in Mukim Bukit Raja here in October last year. Political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, 47, is charged with abetting them.

= == = == =PREVIEW Next Post

UPDATE: Day 52 Trial – More pics coming

Confusion, cop admits being careless
Maria J. Dass, theSun

DAY 52

SHAH ALAM (Oct 25, 2007): Confusion reigned in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial today when several differing dates of a seizure were mentioned by the prosecution’s 45 witness Sgt Amran Abdul Aziz from the Kuala Lumpur Special Action Squad (UTK) division.

Amran who was attached to the Kuala Lumpur Police Contingent Headquarters D9 division prior to being transferred to UTK last March was assigned by ASP Zulkarnain Samsudin to obtain three CCTV recordings dated Oct 9, Oct 18 and Oct 19, 2006, and one guest folio from Hotel Malaya on Nov 10 last year.

He said he had stored the items in a cupboard in his office and handed these to investigating officer ASP Tonny Lunggan the next day.

The three differing dates which showed up during the trial were Nov 6, 10 and 11 of 2006.

Amran, 40, also named Hotel Malaya operations manager whom he met to obtain the tapes and folio as Jimmy Choo (shoe designer and maker) instead of Jimmy Loo (Mow Chan).

Two of the three tapes had been labelled with the dates Nov 6, 2006, indicating that they had been seized on Nov 6.

Questioned by DPP Manoj Kurup on why he had written Nov 6, 2006, on the tapes when he had only obtained the items on Nov 10, 2006, Amran said: "It must be my carelessness." He said he did not know the significance of Nov 6 and was not sure why he wrote that down.

Judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin then asked Amran: "Did you go to Hotel Malaya on Nov 6?"

"No, it was a mistake," replied Amran.

Mohd Zaki: Did you take it (the tapes) on Nov 6?

Amran: I’m not sure.

Mohd Zaki: (Nov 6 is) possibly a mistake?

Amran: Possibly.

Amran agreed that he had collected all three tapes and the guest folio on the same day (Nov 10).

He was then quizzed as to why the submission form for these items was dated Nov 10 when he had informed the court that he handed these over to Tonny on Nov 11.

"It’s a mistake," said Amran adding that he had informed Tonny of some mistakes in the form after he had submitted it.

Manoj then asked: "What did your investigation diary say."

"It states Nov 10 as the day I handed over the items to Tonny," replied Amran.

He then stressed that the date of submission of the items to Tonny was Nov 11.

"How can you be sure of this?" asked Manoj. "I’m sure because I remember getting instructions from ASP Zulkarnain to store the tapes as he was not around at that time and the next day (Nov 11) he told me to hand the items over to Tonny," said Amran.

Later during re-examination, Amran told the court that the three tapes that he handed over to Tonny were the tapes he seized from Hotel Malaya and not any other tapes.

Earlier during cross examination Azilah’s lawyer Hazman Ahmad pointed out that Amran had failed to mention in entry 25 of his investigation diary that he had submitted the guest folio to Tonny. He said Amran had failed to mention what tapes he had submitted to Tonny and only referred to these as "tape tersebut" (those tapes).
Amran also agreed that the investigation diary that he had submitted to court was not the same one he submitted to Tonny. The copy that he submitted to Tonny was without any markings as compared to the one presented in court.

Hearing continues on Monday (Oct 29).

WHAT HAPPENED - DAY 52

* Dr Zainal Effendy Zainal Zainal Abdidin, formerly with Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s (HKL) Emergency Department, testified.

* Sgt Mohd Saad Kimbok, of the Kuala Lumpur police serious crimes division (D9), testified

* Sgt Amran Abdul Aziz, of the KL Special Action Squad testified


= == More Interesting Trial from Singapore

DAY 1 - Snake Woman Botched Exorcism (from spirit of 'dead soldier from Nee Soon camp') Sue Novena Church

Oct 24, 2007

Woman in exocism suit was 'slithering like snake, screaming like Satan' : Defence lawyer


By Jermyn Chow

Madam Amutha Valli, 50, was unwell and would only be able to attend the hearing next week. The woman at the centre of the exorcism suit against Novena Church was 'slithering like a snake, shouting and screaming like Satan and marching like a soldier,' a defence lawyer told the High Court at the start of the trial on Wednesday morning. Another defence counsel said Madam Amutha Valli, 50, who is seeking damages for what she claimed was a forced exorcism on her, said she is a alcoholic. These startling revelations were made at the opening of the hearing in the High Court on Wednesday morning to determine if the Catholic priests had performed an exorcism ritual on Madam Amutha at the Novena Church (BELOW) in Thomson Road three years ago.

Madam Valli was not in court. Her lawyers said she was unwell and would only be able to attend the hearing next week. The private tutor and mother of two is alleging that she was held for about 2 1/2 hours in a room at the well-known Catholic church. She is seeking damages, claiming she was confined and subjected to what she believes were rites of exorcism on the night of Aug 10, 2004.

Sues Redemptorist Order

The former national walker is suing the Redemptorist Order, which runs Novena Church, two priests and seven others for damages for loss of earnings and future medical expenses. In her court documents, she claims she was abused, strangled, pinned down and asked repeatedly to identify herself. She claims the experience left her traumatised and unable to work, and that she has suffered relapses in her mental state, needing continuing medical attention. The defendants have denied her claims. They say her family members had consented to a prayer session being held for her and that she was possessed.

Mr Raghbir Singh Bajwa, who is representing Madam Valli together with Mr Raj Shergill and Ms Anuradha Tiwary, said in his opening statement that the case was "not an attack on the religion." 'We are not saying that the defendants acted with malice or wicked intentions,' said Mr Bajwa. 'They may want to help the plaintiff. But what they did they should not have done... they have caused damage to her.' 'They had a duty of care and they breached that duty of care.'

'An unbelievable story'

Mr Tito Isaac, who is representing Father Simon Tan and the Redemptorist Order, described the plaintiff's claims as 'an unbelievable story', and said the defence would prove that they were not true. In his opening remarks, Mr Isaac said Madam Valli was diagnosed with psychiatric disorder when she was treated at the National University Hospital from 1986 to 1989, and that her medical condition stretched back 25 years ago. He said she hid this fact from NUH doctors who had difficulty getting a full disclosure from her. Mr Issac said that he would produce witnesses to show that 'she was rattling the gates, slithering like a snake, shouting and screaming like Satan with a man's voice and marching like a soldier' on the night' when the priests and the other defendants went to her help that night at a family member's behest.

'Incredible story'

Senior Counsel Jimmy Yim, who is defending Father Jacob Ong, the other priest, also described Madam Valli's allegations as an 'incredible story', and 'a well-hatched up scam'. Mr Anthony Lee, who is representing the other defendents with Mr Denis Tan, said the diagnosis of Madam Valli was 'erroneous' because proper medical practices were not followed. Mr Lee said he would also establish that the plaintiff was an alcoholic and sought treatment for alcohol abuse at the Institute of Mental Health. He charged that she drank a bottle of gin a day. The first witness to take the stand was Madam Valli's daughter, Ms Subashini Jayabel, 22, a student at PSB Academy.Under cross-examination by Mr Issa, who showed her medical reports from IMH and NUH, she said she could not believe that the woman mentioned in the reports was her mother. 'She was the fittest woman I ever knew. You should see her on the track,' said Ms Jayabel, who said her mother was their training coach.

Hearing continues in the afternoon. Oct 24, 2007

Woman in exorcism suit hid long psychiatric history: defence lawyer

If she had told doctors and priests, more appropriate medical assistance could have been rendered. MADAM Amutha Valli, 50, who is at the centre of the exorcism suit against Novena Church, did not tell the priests who came her help of her long medical history of mental disability, which her family members knew about, said a defence lawyer at the opening of the trial on Wednesday morning. Senior Counsel Jimmy Yim, who is defending Father Jacob Ong, one of the 10 defendants being sued by Madam Valli, dismissed her allegations as an 'incredible story', and 'a well-hatched up scam'. In his opening statement, Mr Yim dwelled at length on Madam Valli's pcychiatric history, culled from reports by doctors at National University Hospital where she had been seeing since 1986. 'If the plaintiff's family, who were in the best position to assess the plaintiff's condition knowing her past medical and psychiatric history, had formed the view that medical assistance would have been more appropriate in the circumstances, they coud and should have brought her to Tan Tock Seng Hospital, which is no more than several hundred metres away from the Church,' he told the court. 'The plaintiff has a long medical and psychiatric history of mental disability which the family members knew about but which was not mentioned to the defendants at anytime that night.' Mr Yim submitted that Madam Valli's past medical history would reveal that she had exhibited certain physical and psychological symptoms before the incident in Novena Church on the night of Aug 10, 2004. He said these symptoms included dissociative trance disorder, depression, insomnia, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and work stress, which Madam Valli had claimed she experience on Aug 10. He contended that the attribution of these symptoms to her post-traumatic stress disorder was 'clearly untenable' as they predated the Aug 10 incident.

Family consented

Counsel stressed that it was Madam Valli's family who had sought prayer and assistance for her from the two priests, Father Simon Tan and Father Jacob Ong on that night. According to Father Jacob's account, Madam Valli's son had approached him and told him that she was 'possessed and acting in a suicidal manner' in the right wing of the church and pleaded for his help. When Father Jacob went to the scene, he saw her lying on the floor and 'moving in a snake-like manner and also witnessed her marching about in a rigid fashion.' Madam Valli's 'brother', who was around, also told the priest that she was 'possessed by the spirit of a soldier and anxiously repeated the earlier request for prayer and assistance,' said Mr Yim. Counsel also said that both Father Simon and Father Jacob had a totally different accounts of what happened inside the room. Their version: The two priests acceded to the family's request and 'began praying spontaneously seeking God's protection and blessing' for Madam Valli. 'The plaintiff then began shouting incoherently with her arms moving in a violent manner and was kicking her legs about,' said Counsel Yim. 'Upon seeing this, the plaintiff's 'brother' and the plaintiff's daughter forcibly restrained her.' 'They held down her arms and hands and continued to restrain the plaintiff for some 15 minutes.' 'This was the first time that the plaintiff had been physically restrained that night and was restrained by her own family members.' Mr Yim said the plaintiff's family continued to stay in the room while Father Simon stepped out to get help from other parishioners because Madam Valli's 'brother' and daughter 'appeared visibly exhausted' after restraining her. The other six defendants came into the room on Father Simon's request. The priest then asked Madam Valli's family members to step outside. And they did 'without any protest whatsoever,' said counsel, adding that Madam Valli also did not ask to leave the room with her family. Mr Yim also rebutted Madam Valli's allegations that she was possessed while in the room and an exorcism had to be done; that she was prevented from leaving the room, pinned to the floor by some of the helpers, barred from seeing her family members and was denied her request for an ambulance. She also claimed that Father Simon had pinned a cross on her right hand and placed a 'white item' in her mouth, and further alleged that a Malay-looking man had strangled her. Differing, this is Father Jacob's version: 'He first began by blessing the room and those in it. The plaintiff's family was present and did not object to it.' Father Jacob did sprinkle holy water at her and at parts of the room but did not 'splash' water on her. There was no request from Madam Valli to stop the prayers. She was only restrained when she acted in an aggressive and violent manner. 'This restraint was necessary to prevent her from hurting herself and those around her in the room,' said Mr Yim, who added that Madam Valli was never prevented from leaving the room and neither did she indicate she wanted to. Counsel also contended that she was never prevented from using the toilet. Three of the woman defendants accompanied her to the toilet for her safety, he said.

Psychiatric history

Turning to the Madam Valli's psychiatric history, he told the court that she had been seeing doctors at NUH long before the Aug 10 incident. A large part of her medical history is recorded at NUH, where she has been seeking treatment since 1986. Counsel said from the discovery exercise, it was clear that Madam Valli had concealed and suppressed this material information from the defendants' lawyers and her doctors. Madam Valli was not in court on Wednesday morning. Her lawyers said she was unwell and would only be able to attend the hearing next week. The private tutor and mother of two is alleging that she was held for about 2 1/2 hours in a room at the well-known Catholic church. She is seeking damages, claiming she was confined and subjected to what she believes were rites of exorcism on the night of Aug 10, 2004. The former national walker is suing the Redemptorist Order, which runs Novena Church, two priests and seven others for damages for loss of earnings and future medical expenses. In her court documents, she claims she was abused, strangled, pinned down and asked repeatedly to identify herself. She claims the experience left her traumatised and unable to work, and that she has suffered relapses in her mental state, needing continuing medical attention. Hearing continues on Thursday.

The trial is expected to last 12 days.

Check back for DAY 2 - coming soon


C J Tun Ahmad Fairuz & Tengku Adnan Already Questioned by now newly Attired ACA Officers; Oct 29 Panel Meet - to avoid Bar Council

NO show, no confrontation, Malaysiakini news falsh at 12.06pm
== == == = == = = == = == =
It is confrontation day for Anwar & the ACA - Oct 25 2007

Malaysiakini has the Anwar's response as follows

Anwar's answer: No way, ACA! Beh Lih Yi | Oct 24, 07 4:53pm and ACA Boss is also NOT backing out with a dire warning "action will be taken against him"

Malaysiakini.tv will surely cover this battle this morning

October 25, 2007 00:08 AM

Tun Fairuz, Tengku Adnan Among Those Questioned By ACA

All questioned?

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has recorded statements from Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor in connection with a controversial video clip. ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan (BELOW) said the ACA also recorded statements from eight other individuals to assist in its probe into the video clip showing a prominent lawyer allegedly brokering the appointment of top judges in the country.

The statements were recorded before the Hari Raya. "All the 10 had given good cooperation in this matter," he said tonight. "Now the ACA only needs the original unedited version of the video clip to facilitate the investigation." Ahmad Said said that any individual including former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with an original copy should deliver the video clip to the ACA. "Tomorrow, our officers will go to his (Anwar) office to take the original copy of the tape. If he fails to do so, action will be taken against him," he added.


Anwar has until tomorrow to hand over the original copy of the video clip, failing which he could be charged under Section 22 of the ACA Act which carries a fine of not more than RM10,000 or a jail term of not more than two years or both, upon conviction.

= == = == == = ===

ACA Must Maintain Its Good Name - Abdullah

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad

Badawi said the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) should maintain its good name at all times. He said ACA officers were entrusted with a heavy responsibility that should be carried out efficiently with fairness and honesty. Abdullah, who is also Internal Security Minister, said this during his visit to the ACA headquarters here today. He told reporters later that the ACA officers looked smart in their new uniforms, worn for the first time during a parade today.

ABOVE PM Abdullah & ACA Boss inspecting the BELOW "smart" officers in their new "smart" uniforms but not very smart to catch the corrupted big fish. Change of uniforms means more kickbacks to replenish the finished duit raya.

Meanwhile, ACA director-general Datuk Ahmad Said Hamdan said the agency would go after those believed to have been involved in the mismanagement of funds highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report irrespective whether they were "small fish or big fish." "We're not selective. We'll go after everybody," he told reporters. He brushed aside suggestions that ACA was only going after the "small fry" after 10 people, including nine civil servants, were charged in Kota Kinabalu, Kota Baharu and Raub courts with mismanagement of public funds. Ahmad Said said such cases had to be initially referred to the Attorney-General's Chambers before the individuals involved could be charged in court.

= = == = == == = = NST 24 Oct 2007

PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) needs to view the original full-length version of the "V.K. Lingam video tape", but it doesn't have to retain it. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz suggested this in response to the refusal of those who brought the tape to light to hand over the original recording of the telephone conversation between Lingam and, allegedly, a senior judge. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has until tomorrow to submit the video clip for the ACA's inspection. "If he (Anwar) doesn't want to hand over the original, I believe the ACA can ask him to play the original for them and once it's over, he can take it back," Nazri said yesterday. " It's not necessary for them to keep it." Nazri was commenting on an ACA directive to Anwar to produce the original video clip by Thursday or face imprisonment or a fine under Section 22 of the ACA Act. He said Anwar had a key role to play in determining the authenticity of the tape pending further investigations. The ACA was tasked with investigating the video's authenticity on behalf of a three-man panel established by the government after the recording, allegedly showing lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam on the phone with a senior judge, became public.

The panel, headed by Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor and comprising Datuk Mahadev Shankar and Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, had been given 30 working days from their appointment on Sept 27 to complete their investigation and to report to the prime minister. No one has come forward to volunteer information so far, despite assurances from Nazri that their identities would be protected. Despite this, Nazri said the government still had no plans to call a Royal Commission of inquiry into the video clip until its authenticity could be verified. "The video clip is akin to a 'surat layang' (poison-pen letter) with no identity of the writer," he said. "We can't be having Royal Commissions for every poison-pen letter." However, he did not dismiss the possibility of it at a later stage of the investigation.

= == = == == Background info

OPINION: Arrogance standing on stilts in quick sand Contributed by Stephen Tan Ban Cheng , from Malaysian Bar;Wednesday, 24 October 2007, 08:31am
Video Tape Panel The decision of the independent three-man panel to sit in session on Oct 29 – the opening day of the 14th Malaysian Law Conference – seems to be intriguing.

Is the panel trying to avoid meeting the Bar Council when it is public knowledge that the Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address at the Malaysian Law Conference witnessed by the entire Bar Council leadership? Only the Immaculate Misconception will never know that all Bar Councillors will be busy on such a red-letter day for the Bar. The avoidance view is reinforced when it is known that the Bar Council had written to the panel on Oct 8 seeking a meeting on Oct 10. On that exact date, the panel replied, requesting a list of the issues to be discussed. Two days later, the Bar Council sent the list. It is unclear if the panel has responded.
What is the point of the panel stating publicly that it would meet all interested parties on Oct 29 then when by its very overture so far, it prefers to perform a solo dance? Is that a typical ajak-ajak ayam (an invitation not intended)?

The decision also appears to be a display of arrogance mounted on stilts standing in quick sand, and tantamount to turning a simple job into a complex operation. I had written earlier of danger: the discourse of the Malaysian Bar for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the video clip and a Judicial Commission for the appointment and promotion of Judges may well be captured.
The video clip, since called the Lingam Tape Scandal, first penetrated the public pale on Sept 19 and showed veteran lawyer discussing Judge and case-fixing with a senior Judge, now popularly believed to be incumbent Chief Justice Tun Ahmad Fairuz bin Sheikh Abdul Halim. Since then, calls have mounted for the resignation of Tun Fairuz who has so far denied through Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz. Amidst undermining the Doctrine of the Separation of Powers in our democracy, Nazri, as a member of the Executive, has since repeated the denial of this top officer of the Judiciary – even in Parliament.

Lingam has since gone into Plato’s metaphorical cave where silence seems to be the ultimate form of communication among the esoteric. No threat of defamation is heard from this lawyer who is widely known to specialise in the law of defamation. When the video clip first surfaced, the Malaysian Bar, through the Bar Council, had responded immediately by calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry, a call which certain Cabinet Ministers, including Nazri, immediately shot down in a mounting war of words over the next few days.
The verbal exchange resulted in an escalation when the Bar Council was virtually forced at its emergency session on Sept 22 to call for a “Walk for Justice” on Sept 26. On Sept 25, the very eve of the “Walk for Justice,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak announced the formation of an independent panel chaired by former High Court of Malaya Chief Judge Tan Sri Haidar Mohamad Noor. The two other members are former Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shanker and “social activist” Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Analysts see the timing of the announcement of the panel’s formation as an attempt to pre-empt the “Walk for Justice” which nevertheless resulted in an unprecedented number of 2,000 lawyers of all races from the young to the very old walking the 3.5km distance from the Palace of Justice to the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya despite the Courts all over West Malaysia holding their normal sessions.

No power

Lawyers taking part in the “Walk for Justice” knew that besides other weaknesses, the independent panel had no powers to compel and protect witnesses. They were told that the Bar Council was still prepared to work with the panel whose job is confined to just verifying the authenticity of the Lingam Video Tape.

Indeed, on Oct 8, the Bar Council wrote a letter to the panel seeking a meeting on Oct 10, on which very day the panel replied asking for a list of issues to be discussed. The Bar Council replied on Oct 12, and so far it remains unclear whether any response has been received.

Now comes the intriguing announcement that the panel will be sitting on Oct 29. Oct 29 is known by almost every lawyer worth his or her salt to be the very first day of the 14th Malaysian Law Conference that will be opened by Sultan of Perak and none other than Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will deliver the keynote address.

The entire Bar Council leadership is expected to attend the opening of the conference that is expected to attract the participation of between 400 and 500 lawyers. So what is intriguing about the panel’s sitting on Oct 29 is probably its reluctance to allow the Bar Council to have any inputs in its proceedings. Of course, there is no stopping other analysts from suggesting that the decision seems to be a display of arrogance mounted on stilts standing in quick sand.

Indeed, one analyst threw several rhetorical questions: “Isn’t it clear that they want to exclude the Bar Council? Doesn’t setting pre-conditions and all the subsequent silence show that they are erecting barriers which are not even necessary? And now, picking this absurd date! Isn’t that arrogance?

“What is comical about this stance is that they forget that they were appointed on the eve of the ‘Walk for Justice’ to pre-empt that event. Here’s where the stilts are: The panel’s very pedigree is suspect. Instead of opting to protect and enhance the panel’s legitimacy by inviting participation, they obstruct it,” the analyst added.
Another analyst embellished the “quick sand” part of the statement by stating that the panel’s very independence should be beyond reproach. “What they are doing is very political, not at all independent; it tantamounts to turning a simple job into a complex operation. I guess Malaysian politicians have come a long, long way from the simple kampung (village) approach; we are now into twin towers!”
My take on the Lingam Tape is still to climb on my hobby horse of preventing the capture of the Malaysian Bar’s discourse on the video clip and the Judicial Commission. Just look at how they stretch things, even time. The panel interpreted their initial one-month deadline as a 30-working-day deadline!
I would have thought that in the normal scheme of things, one month from Sept 25 means one calendar month ending on Oct 24. But no, now the one month, if the panel’s ruling is right, is 30 working days.
“Nice try,” would have been the instantaneous response of St Peter if and when I try indulging in such an interpretation at the Pearly Gates. But then, two of them are former top Malaysian Judges and none of the merely human trio bears any resemblance to the biblical divinity of St Peter.
Malaysian lawyers must continue singing the Thomas Jefferson song that “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Better still: etch “EV” in our individual mind. Forget about ET, that extra-territorial whatever. Just etch “EV.”

= == = = Do you need the FULL Original Video Clip to check the authenticity??

When any video clip (original or NO original) is tempered, they leave "tell-tale" overlapping images. A check on a 30 sec Lingam Video Clip reveals no such tempering.

Go H E R E for details on

Authenticated - 30s Sample Analysis Lingam Video Clip Contents Not Tempered; ACA DG demands Full Video Clip from Anwar Ibrahim otherwise No action; Initial 8 mins Cut Video Clip is said to be edited and believed tempered

ABOVE: the features in editing of a video clip and BELOW: the Split images (30 frames per sec) reveals NO discontinuity or overlapping of inserted or doctored images

=== === = and Go H E R E see also UPDATES in

MORE PICS – Najib Blowing Trumpet in France – with Petronas Oil MoneySending a Space Tourist & purchasing TWO Scorpene Submarines & NO MONEY to repair Roads

Below: The 2nd lady in waiting woke up late and forgot to comb her hairdo for the ceremony??


= == = =and some new pics on the Spaceman
ABOVE: He had to be placed on reclining chair when he was pull out from the capsule as he was danging almost upside down for 20 mins and BELOW - he had not much to eat in space that he was immediately given a Big apple to munch to boast up his energy level



Get complete protection against viruses, worms and Trojan horse programs – CA Anti-Virus 2008! Click here for cheap hotels
www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing public photos from Multidimid. Make your own badge here.
Blogroll Me!

Your email address:


Powered by FeedBlitz

Add to Google Add to Google
Google
 
Web powerpresent.blogspot.com