Khairy says AG must explain why no appeal filed in Ling’s cheating case
An Umno minister has joined DAP in calling on the attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to explain why Putrajaya is not appealing former transport minister Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik's acquittal of cheating charges in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Abdul Gani needed to explain his decision as it was a matter of public interest.
"I think it is a public interest case and there must be some clarification on the part of the attorney-general if he is not pursuing an appeal and what grounds there are.
"This is a very important case and I think the public wants to know what the reasons behind this are," he was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini after an event in Bukit Jalil today.
The AG’s decision not to appeal the acquittal has was questioned by DAP chairman Karpal Singh.
“The case should also not end with the acquittal. There must be an inquiry into the colossal losses incurred in the PKFZ," he had said.
Ling, 70, was accused of cheating the federal government by not disclosing to the cabinet an additional interest rate of 7.5% a year on the purchase price of the land for the PKFZ project, knowing that it had been fixed at RM1,088,456,000 by the Valuation and Property Services Department based on RM25 psf, inclusive of the interest rates.
He also faced two amended alternative charges of cheating and intentionally not disclosing to the cabinet that 7.5% a year was an additional rate on the land price.
He was alleged to have committed the offences on Level 4 at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya between September 25 and November 6, 2002.
Ling, a former MCA president, was acquitted on October 25 by the High Court of charges that he had cheated Putrajaya in the PKFZ land deal.
The 14-day deadline for the prosecution to file an appeal against the court's decision expired on Friday.
High Court Judge Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi, in acquitting the former MCA president, said the defence had established reasonable doubt in the prosecution's case.
He said evidence by the defence revealed that Ling did not conceal anything from the Cabinet, lending credence to his contention that he had no part in determining the land price and was only interested in getting the land fast.
Ahmadi also ruled that Ling could not be held accountable for any mistakes, misleading information or inaccuracies in the preparation of the ministry's documents regarding the land acquisition. This is despite Ling signing the documents.
Nine witnesses, including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, gave evidence for Ling. - November 10, 2013.
