Senior lawyer VK Lingam who was linked to a video clip alleging a judge-fixing scandal in 2007 now has another court opportunity to try to set aside the disbarment that is preventing him from legal practice.
The Federal Court has fixed March 30 to hear his appeal against the Malaysian Bar's 2015 decision to strike him off the roll of advocates and solicitors.
The Bar's legal representative, Razlan Hadri Zulkifli, confirmed that the apex court fixed the hearing date following case management of the appeal this morning.
"The Federal Court has fixed March 15, 2022, for parties to file written submissions, and March 30, 2022, for hearing (of Lingam's appeal)," Razlan said when contacted by Malaysiakini today.
On May 22, 2018, the Kuala Lumpur High Court denied Lingam's bid to overturn the disciplinary board's decision. The Court of Appeal upheld the lower court's decision on July 27 last year.
Lingam was struck off the rolls as an advocate and solicitor by the disciplinary board on Nov 6, 2015.
He was implicated in a judge-fixing scandal when a video clip of him apparently allegedly negotiating the appointment of top judges was made public in 2007.
A royal commission of inquiry was set up in 2008 to probe the matter.
The five-member commission recommended that action be taken against key personalities involved in the scandal – Lingam, former chief justices Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Eusoff Chin, Umno leader Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and business tycoon Vincent Tan.
In its 191-page report, the commission recommended that the six be investigated under a slew of laws – the Sedition Act, the Official Secrets Act, the Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Legal Profession Act.
Lingam and a few others mounted legal attempts to challenge the RCI findings, but the Federal Court in September 2011 ruled that the commission's ruling cannot be challenged.
The lawyer is believed to be residing outside of Malaysia. Previously, he was reported to be in the United Kingdom seeking medical treatment. - Mkini
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