Investigation may not lead to prosecution of individuals, says Najib

The investigation on the six individuals, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, named in the report by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Datuk V.K. Lingam's video clip case, does not necessarily lead to prosecution or there was a case to answer, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Sunday.

The deputy prime minister said the scrutiny made by the five-member commission and the evidence to be adduced in court differed in terms of methodology and principle.

"This is the recommendation by the commission. When we have set up a commission and later it submits its report, it's difficult for us to not make the report public and not to accept the recommendations made.

"Nevertheless, this does not necessarily mean that there will be prosecution or there is a case to answer," he told Malaysian journalists covering the World Economic Forum on the Middle East which started today.

Najib was asked to comment on the cabinet's instruction to the attorney-general to initiate immediate investigations on allegations against individuals named in the 186-page report by the commission which investigated the authenticity of the video clip featuring senior lawyer Lingam brokering judges' appointments and promotions over the handphone.

Individuals named in the report are Lingam, former deputy minister in the prime minister's department Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, two former chief justices Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin and Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir said yesterday he was prepared to be investigated and charged in court with regard to the inquiry findings.

Najib said the people should not draw any conclusion on the matter now.

"At this stage, let's not come to any conclusion yet. Let the attorney-general play his role in looking into this matter and make a decision," he added.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said the inquiry report would be sold to the public on Tuesday.

Abdul Muin Abdul Majid
Bernama
18/05/08

admin: what is he trying to cover? Is he involved in the scandal too? He is trying to say that law is only applicable to common people and not politicians or business tycoon. Scandal of the century and he is trying to make a joke out of it.