Press Release: Bar Council’s Response to Interview by Deepak Jaikishan

We note the recent reports in the news media concerning an interview given by a Deepak Jaikishan, and the disclosures made there by him with respect to the involvement of several lawyers in the circumstances surrounding the second statutory declaration by Balasubramaniam Perumal. However, the identities of the lawyers have been “bleeped” out.

We also received yesterday a letter from Haris Ibrahim requesting the Bar Council to launch an investigation to identify the lawyer(s) concerned, when it appears to us that Haris Ibrahim may know the identity of these lawyers. This has caused unnecessary speculation and confusion.

The Bar Council views these circumstances seriously, and invites those who have the facts and evidence to come forward openly and officially and, if there is compelling evidence of any professional misconduct, to lodge such evidence together with a complaint immediately with the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (“ASDB”). ASDB is an independent body statutorily established and tasked with the responsibility of investigating professional conduct and disciplining of advocates and solicitors. The Bar Council will render assistance to the public in this regard, in having any such matters properly directed for investigations by the ASDB.

We also note that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (“MACC”) is said by Deepak Jaikishan to have had knowledge of the matters stated by the latter in his interview, but has covered up the matter and has since closed its investigations on the matter. We urge the MACC to shed light on the reasons for closing its file on the investigations conducted earlier.

Lim Chee Wee
President
Malaysian Bar

18 Dec 2012