Friday June 27, 2008

Dr M wants Government to probe Justice Chin for alleged misconduct

By MANJIT KAUR

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called on the Government to set up a tribunal to investigate High Court Judge Datuk Ian Chin for alleged misconduct.

He said the allegation should be taken seriously, as documents he received, including a police report lodged against Justice Chin for breach of Judge’s Code of Ethics, have also been sent out to several judges, the Chief Justice and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“So why are they ignoring the fact? When PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim brought up the case against lawyer V.K. Lingam, a royal commission was set up immediately.

“It's up to the tribunal to decide whether the complaint against Justice Chin is true or otherwise, but what's important now is to set up the tribunal,” he said to reporters at his office at the Petronas Twin Towers here yesterday.

Dr Mahathir said that on June 10, The Borneo Post had reported Justice Chin’s judicial disclosure about how judges were allegedly threatened and sent to Boot camps by him (Dr Mahathir).

“What he did not reveal was a police report against him for breaching the code of ethics in hearing a case which he had a personal interest.

“Justice Chin presided in a case involving businessman Datuk Syed Kechik Syed Mohamad without revealing that he believed Syed Kechik was responsible for getting his father and brother arrested 20 years ago.

“With Justice Chin joining Parti Berjaya where one of its objectives was to expel Syed Kechik, this should have resulted in him excusing himself from hearing the case,” he said.

Dr Mahathir touched on Justice Chin changing his initial accusation of “veiled threat” and claiming that, “I (Dr Mahathir) did not speak about removing judges through a tribunal but conveyed the threat by dropping words to that effect here and there.”

“I am wondering what the words were. I will not be surprised if he is now thinking and cooking up more stories,” he added.