Of Cakes, Gifts and Bowls of Soups....?

V Thirunama Karasu, told the Royal Commission of Inquiry that he send cake from Angel Cake House, briefcase and three bowls of soup to Eusoff reports Malaysiakini. I really wonder what soup is that?

clipped from www.malaysiakini.com

He gave Eusoff three bowls of soup

Questioned by his lawyer Wee Choo Keong at the inquiry today, Thirunama revealed that he had driven his elder brother to the ex-chief justice’s house seven or eight times.

“I have also gone there on my own to send cake from Angel Cake House, briefcase and three bowls of soup,” he said to laughter from the packed courtroom.

Asked whether he knew the purpose of Lingam’s visits to Eusoff’s house, Thirunama replied: “He (Lingam) told me he got an important case. He mentioned something about Ayer Molek but I don’t know what Ayer Molek about.”

Thirunama said he has seen Eusoff at Lingam’s house twice for a dinner and another occasion when the ex-top judge came to bid farewell to Lingam and his wife who were leaving to seek medical treatment in the United States.

“(The first occasion was) in 1995, when Lingam asked me to organise some tables, chairs and do some cleaning up at his house. That night, I see Eusoff and his wife, Lamin Yunus and his wife came for a dinner,” he said.

This contradicted Lingam’s earlier evidence that he and Eusoff had only been to each other’s house once in 1995 respectively for their Hari Raya and Deepavali open house.

Thirunama also said he spoke to Eusoff four times - including one time on Lingam’s phone - when he sent gifts to the former chief justice’s house. One such occasion was when he sent the briefcase and wallet to Eusoff.

“He told me to come in (to the house). I placed the bag on the dining table and he look through the bag. He told me he was very tired as he just came back from London - from Porchester Gate,” he said, adding that he was told by Lingam that tycoon Vincent Tan owned a house in the posh London suburb.

Thirunama also said he came to know that one of Lingam’s drivers had fetched Eusoff from the Subang airport.

On the infamous Lingam-Eusoff New Zealand trip in 1994, Thirunama said Lingam told him that he “travelled together (with Eusoff) from Malaysia”, and not “bump into” each other as the duo told the commission earlier.

He claimed he advised Lingam against framing the holiday photos.

“I told him ‘Anne (big brother in Tamil), don’t be stupid to frame these photos or show them, people will come to know’. The photos were never framed,” Thirunama said, drawing another round of laughter from the courtroom.

Thirunama took the stand at about 11.10am as the 18th witness on Day 13 of the inquiry. Several other judges apart from former chief justice Mohd Eusoff Chin who has been implicated earlier were brought up for the first time during Thirunama’s testimony today.

They included former Court of Appeal judges Lamin Yunus, Mokhtar Sidin and serving Court of Appeal judge Low Hop Bing and former Industrial Court chairperson W Satchianandan.

There was a heated moment on the inquiry when the commission was irked several times over Wee’s (Thirumana's lawyer) line of questioning and interjected to tell the lawyer to confine his questions only to the four areas in Thirunama’s witness statement which have been ruled as admissible. Lawyers representing Eusoff, Tan and Lingam also objected to Wee’s questions numerous times. At one point, when Mokhtar’s name was brought up by Thirunama, commission chief Haidar Mohd Noor appeared annoyed and ticked Wee off.

Arguing the need to get to the bottom of the matter,

Wee retorted: “This is the mother of all inquiry, otherwise we will need another inquiry (to probe judicial corruption).”

“But we can’t have a free ride, (you) can’t just say anything here,” replied Haidar.

On the by Commissioner Mahadev Shankar whether Thirunama was mad?

“I am 110 percent sure I am not mad. That was not true. That was a serious allegation against me,” a smiling Thirunama replied.

Do you think Thirunama is a mad guy? Thirunama denied it at all and by judging the Q&A in the inquiry, 'he sounds like and talks like' a perfect guy for me. He does not seems to be 'bullshitting' either or did he? I'm posting below the Q&A. Thirunama also denies that he's taking revenge on his 'anne' (big brother) when asked by Eusoff Chin's counsel Hazman Ahmad.

clipped from www.malaysiakini.com

'I am 110 percent not mad'Chua Sue-Ann | Feb 4, 08 8:46pm

Lawyer VK Lingam's younger brother V Thirunama Karasu today vehemently denied that he was of unsound mind, as claimed by the embattled lawyer.

During his testimony today, Thirunama was asked pointedly by commission member Mahadev Shankar if the claims made by Lingam were true.

Mahadev: Are you mad?

Thirunama: I am 110 percent sure I am not mad. That was not true. That was a serious allegation against me.

He also said that he was asked by eminent psychiatrist M Mahadevan to personally write a statement about his ‘mental' conditions so as to justify a referral to the psychiatric ward.

"Mahadevan told me to write the letter so he can get me admitted in the psychiatric ward.

"He told me to write bad about myself because he was briefed by my sister (VK Lashimi) so this will help in my psychiatric (warding)," Thirunama said.

Thirunama also admitted to feigning mental illness after being coerced by his brother and sister - believed to be Lingam and Lashimi - and three lawyers.

Lingam's lawyer Thayalan: Were you admitted to a psychiatric ward at Universiti Hospital?

Thirunama: Yes. I was told to go put up an act there.

Thayalan: After being discharged, you went back again to the emergency room to seek further treatment?

Thirunama: After given home leave ... my sister got angry and asked me why I was discharged so fast. I told her the doctor was getting suspicious (that I was not really mentally ill). So I put up another act and went to the emergency room saying that I was suicidal. They gave me a jab to calm me down and I was transferred to GH (Kuala Lumpur General Hospital).

Thayalan: Now you are telling the commission that you put up an act and was able to convince at least two consultant psychiatrists that you were mentally ill?

Thirunama: I was forced day and night and was under tremendous pressure. So I had to do this. I was under threat ... they confused me. They promised me money.

Thayalan: I am suggesting to you now that you are putting up an act. Do you agree?

Thirunama: Certainly not true. I have been consistent in my statement. I have no revenge or grudge. I am doing this without fear or favour.

Thirunama said that he was forced to put up an act after he gave a statement to the ACA who was investigating allegations of Lingam's involvement in judicial corruption.

ciao!