I didn’t file any police report against Apandi, Kit Siang tells court
DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang is being sued by former attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali for defamation.
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said he never filed a police report against former attorney-general (AG) Mohamed Apandi Ali for any alleged wrongdoing in handling 1MDB investigations.
He said this when cross-examined by lawyer M Visvanathan in Apandi’s defamation suit against him before the High Court, for claiming Apandi “aided and abetted in the 1MDB scandal”.
Visvanathan suggested that the reason Lim was not “bold enough” to lodge a report was because he knew Apandi had done nothing against the law.
Lim disagreed, adding that “the AG must be accountable to the people”.
Apandi is claiming that Lim had defamed him in a 2019 statement, “Dangerous fallacy to think Malaysia is on the road to integrity”.
He alleged that the statement by the Iskandar Puteri MP had depicted him as someone immoral and unethical, without integrity, and who had practised double standards in his position as AG.
Visvanathan also asked Lim if Apandi’s successor, Tommy Thomas, had ever come out to say that Apandi’s conduct in handling 1MDB-related matters was “questionable”, or gone on record to accuse him of “aiding and abetting” in 1MDB.
“I don’t think so,” Lim replied.
To another question on whether Lim had written to Apandi previously to seek clarification on his Jan 26, 2016 statement that cleared Najib Razak of wrongdoing in 1MDB and SRC International matters, Lim said he had made public statements on both issues.
Visvanathan: For an MP like you, would it be better for you to write to him officially to demand an explanation? If the (former) AG fails to do so, you can take it up later.
Lim: With due respect, I don’t agree.
Visvanathan rebuked Lim, saying that his response showed he did not want to get any verification from Apandi and that he was attempting to bring the issue into the political arena.
“I want to establish the AG’s accountability,” Lim said.
Visvanathan then questioned him over his assertion that foreign countries had filed court actions against individuals linked to 1MDB, but that Apandi did not take action in Malaysia.
“These cases are outside Malaysia and the AG does not have control of those proceedings,” the lawyer said.
Lim responded by saying: “His accountability goes beyond Malaysia.”
To this, Visvanathan requested the court to record in the notes of evidence that Lim refused to answer his question on whether the AG had any powers outside the country.
Judge Azimah Omar reminded Lim that Visvanathan only asked him to confirm that the AG, who is also the public prosecutor, had no control on foreign proceedings.
Lim concurred with the suggestion.
The hearing was adjourned to June 21 and will continue on June 23 and July 22 and 23.
He said this when cross-examined by lawyer M Visvanathan in Apandi’s defamation suit against him before the High Court, for claiming Apandi “aided and abetted in the 1MDB scandal”.
Visvanathan suggested that the reason Lim was not “bold enough” to lodge a report was because he knew Apandi had done nothing against the law.
Lim disagreed, adding that “the AG must be accountable to the people”.
Apandi is claiming that Lim had defamed him in a 2019 statement, “Dangerous fallacy to think Malaysia is on the road to integrity”.
He alleged that the statement by the Iskandar Puteri MP had depicted him as someone immoral and unethical, without integrity, and who had practised double standards in his position as AG.
Visvanathan also asked Lim if Apandi’s successor, Tommy Thomas, had ever come out to say that Apandi’s conduct in handling 1MDB-related matters was “questionable”, or gone on record to accuse him of “aiding and abetting” in 1MDB.
“I don’t think so,” Lim replied.
To another question on whether Lim had written to Apandi previously to seek clarification on his Jan 26, 2016 statement that cleared Najib Razak of wrongdoing in 1MDB and SRC International matters, Lim said he had made public statements on both issues.
Visvanathan: For an MP like you, would it be better for you to write to him officially to demand an explanation? If the (former) AG fails to do so, you can take it up later.
Lim: With due respect, I don’t agree.
Visvanathan rebuked Lim, saying that his response showed he did not want to get any verification from Apandi and that he was attempting to bring the issue into the political arena.
“I want to establish the AG’s accountability,” Lim said.
Visvanathan then questioned him over his assertion that foreign countries had filed court actions against individuals linked to 1MDB, but that Apandi did not take action in Malaysia.
“These cases are outside Malaysia and the AG does not have control of those proceedings,” the lawyer said.
Lim responded by saying: “His accountability goes beyond Malaysia.”
To this, Visvanathan requested the court to record in the notes of evidence that Lim refused to answer his question on whether the AG had any powers outside the country.
Judge Azimah Omar reminded Lim that Visvanathan only asked him to confirm that the AG, who is also the public prosecutor, had no control on foreign proceedings.
Lim concurred with the suggestion.
The hearing was adjourned to June 21 and will continue on June 23 and July 22 and 23.
I am clear that the Slippery, Slithery, Sneaky man is Apandi.
ReplyDeleteTransnational crimes such as 1MDB requires authorities in multiple jurisdictions to work together.
The Swiss Prosecutors's office is on record stating that they received no cooperation from the Malaysian Attorney General's office for their Mutual Legal Assistance requests for information regarding the 1MDB investigations.
That was during the tenure of Apandi as AG.
The cooperation situation only changed when Najib lost power and Pakatan Harapan became the Federal Government.
The American FBI stated as much during their representatives' visit to KL to follow up on 1MDB investigations during the PH government. Zero cooperation from the Apandi-led AG's Chambers.