Lim Kit Siang

“Datuk T” trio’s gross abuse of process of the court

What happened in the Kuala Lumpur magistrate’s court this morning in the “Datuk T” trio Sri Carcosa sex tape case was a gross abuse of the process of the court, reducing the judicial process to a farce.

It was alleged for instance that there are expert testimony that the man in the sex tape is “99.99 per cent” opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

What is the probative value and credibility of such expert evidence when they are not challenged or tested by other expert testimonies, reducing them to the status of one-sided accounts not much better than mere hearsay.

Many questions are raised by the farcical proceedings in the magistrate’s court this morning, where the “Datuk T” trio sought to justify their crimes on the ground of national interests.

What greater national interest could there be to equal the fight against corruption, particularly “grand corruption” of political leaders, with Malaysia’s Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) plunging from No.23 in 1995 to No. 56th position in 16 years?

Would the Attorney-General agree that it would be relevant to mitigate offences committed by anyone, whether to steal documents or to breach the Official Secrets Act, if such crimes are committed with the noble purpose of exposing the “grand corruption” of Ministers and the political leaders in government?

The “Datuk T” trio were treated like VVIPs, allowed to leave court when their paltry fines had not yet been paid.

The question I want to pose is whether the Attorney-General and the Police are part of the conspiracy in “Datuk T” trio’s gross abuse of process of court resulting in the inordinate 3-month delay in charging them in court so that so-called expert testimonies could be compiled and ready to be reported in court alleging that the person in the Carcosa sex tape was Anwar?

If so, both the AG and the IGP should explain why they had compromised the independence, professionalism and integrity of their offices to play the political games of “Datuk T” trio and their masters in UMNO?