ONLY A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY CAN CLEAR EUSOFF CHIN
Aliran rejects the statement of the Attorney-General as reported on 18-11-2000 with regard to the allegations of misconduct levelled against the former Chief Justice, Tun Eusoff Chin as "closed after a full-scale investigation by the Chambers and other relevant authorities like the police and the Anti-Corruption Agency. The public at large will not accept his decision or be convinced by his claim, "It is agreeable that there is no case against Eusoff. The matter is treated as closed." (The Sun 18-11-2000) An internal investigation cannot be conclusive or taken seriously. It cannot be thorough or unbiased. It is not expected to unearth anything believable going by precedence. Malaysians will recall how the police deliberately lied about Anwar's state of health following his arrest. The foremost policeman in the country, the Inspector General of Police, lied through his teeth by telling the nation that he was safe and sound after almost killing him by his cowardly and brutal assault on a helpless Anwar. The highest policeman was a proven liar. A subsequent police committee set up to identify the assailant of Anwar, after dilly-dallying for almost five months declared that it was not able to pin-point the culprit. Those in the know colluded with the IGP and denied any knowledge of the assault. Information was withheld and justice was obstructed. It took a Commission of Inquiry to expose the conspirators and establish the truth. What the police tried to hide was finally unraveled by the Commission. In light of this shameful episode does the AG expect thinking Malaysians to believe that "after a full-scale investigation by the police there was no case to be answered? Malaysians will also recall what was revealed by the former Anti-Corruption Agency head Shafee Yahya. According to him when the ACA raided the then Economic Planning Unit head, Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman's office in 1998, they discovered large sums of cash in his drawers which could not be accounted for. According to him the Prime Minister interceded in this matter and after reprimanding him for his trouble ordered the investigation to stop. Recently, it was announced that Ali Abul Hassan Sulaiman could not be prosecuted for lack of sufficient evidence. After this revelation what credibility would the ACA command in the eyes of the public for its so-called "full-scale investigation"? In 1966 a former High Court Judge in a 33-page letter had implicated a dozen judges including Eusoff Chin with acts of impropriety. The AG's Chambers after a "full-scale investigation" concluded that there was no truth whatsoever in the 112 allegations. The AG did not prosecute Justice Syed Idid, the writer of the letter, for circulating false allegations which tarnished and ridiculed the judiciary. But Lim Guan Eng and Irene Fernandez had to face the wrath of the law allegedly printing "false information". Does the AG expect the public to think that there was indeed a credible "full-scale investigation"? Malaysians have no faith in the investigations of the "Chambers and other relevant authorities like the police and the Anti-Corruption Agency" and would reject their conclusions with regard to the allegations of misconduct against Eusoff Chin. Eusoff Chin can only be cleared by a Commission of Inquiry concerning not only his holiday in New Zealand but also the various allegations contained in Justice Syed Idid's letter. It is important for the integrity and image of the judiciary that he be exonerated by a Royal Commission of Inquiry. As long as this is not done, the judiciary would remain tainted and tarnished, undermining public confidence in our system of justice. P Ramakrishnan [Home] [Aliran Monthly] |
