Defence not allowed to have Kadir's whole statement

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ruled that Dr Ling Liong Sik’s lawyers are not allowed to have the whole recorded statement of former tourism minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir for the prosecution’s purpose of impeaching this witness.

In a trial-within-a-trial of the Port Klang Free Zone cheating case, Justice Ahmadi Asnawi also decided not to allow Abdul Kadir’s lawyer Chong Loong Leng to address the court, but allows the lawyer to ask questions to his client during the impeachment proceedings and also that he be given a copy of the contended statement only and not the whole statement.

The judge in his ruling said that the defence is only allowed to have the portion of Abdul Kadir’s contended statement.

“The defence does not have a right to inspect Abdul Kadir’s entire statement for the purpose of impeachment proceedings. Hence, the defence application is dismissed.”

Ling’s lawyer Wong Kian Kheong wanted to get the whole of Abdul Kadir’s recorded Section 112 statement so that the defence can understand the context and manner it was said.

On Friday, Justice Ahmadi has allowed the prosecution led by deputy solicitor-general II Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah’s application to impeach the former tourism minister as there were material conflicts with his recorded statement.

Abdul Kadir had testified that sometimes when the cost of a project escalates the cabinet’s approval need not be sought as it can be gained by the Finance Ministry or the ministry concerned.

[More to follow]