Hearing Continues In Corruption Case
By May Stephen

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Brunei High Court heard that a former Brunei deputy defence minister had asked His Royal Highness Prince Jefri Bolkiah to construct a car park on his private property at Kiarong, during the ongoing high profile corruption case against ex-minister Pengiran Dr Hj Ismail and Wong Tim Kai, the contractor.

Mr Yee Wan Chung a Yee Kok On, Executive Engineer with the Public Works Department for the past 19 years, replied to questions from Defence Counsel Mr Balwant Singh Sidhu.

He said that Lot 4520 in Kiarong belongs to the former deputy defence minister (Pg Sanggamara Diraja Maj Gen (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu). "I don't know his full name but I know him as Pg Sanggamara Pg Ibnu."

Mr Balwant: "Mr Yee, did you know that the thenn deputy defence minister had approached Prince Jefri to ask him to pay for the construction of this car park as he was funding this project, the Drainage and Roadworks project nearby. Did you know Mr Yee?

Mr Yee: "No, I did not know."

Mr Balwant: "Do you know this now at this point in time?"

Mr Yee: "Yes. From you."

Mr Balwant: "Not from any other source?"

Mr Yee: "No."

Mr Balwant: "And I put it to you Mr Yee that after Pg Ibnu obtained the consent of Prince Jefri, he approached Pg Dato Ismail and informed him about this, don't you think so. I put it to you?"

Mr Yee: "I don't know how this came about."

Mr Balwant: "I put it to you that pursuant to this Pengiran Dato Ismail together with Pg Ibnu went to meet Prince Jefri at his office. Did you know about this?"

Mr Yee: "No I did not."

Mr Balwant: "And I further put it to you that at that meeting Prince Jefri informed Pengiran Dato Ismail that he had agreed to pay for the car park for Pg Ibnu

and directed Pengiran Dato Ismail to include this in variation order?"

Mr Yee: "I don't know the details of any discussions but I only received instructions from my superiors."

Mr Balwant: "To include the car park in VO3. That was the instruction?"

Mr Yee: "Yes."

Mr Balwant: "Who was your superior MAr Yee at that point in time?"

Mr Yee: "I believe it was Hj Rashid bin Hj Abdul Rahman."

Mr Balwant: "Were those instructions given orally or in writing?"

Mr Yee: "They were verbal instructions."

Mr Balwant: "Mr Yee, did the AntiCorruption Bureau ask you questions pertaining to this car park?"

Mr Yee: "Yes."

Mr Balwant: "Did they ask you where the money came from?"

Mr Yee: "Budget for this car park? No they did not."

Mr Balwant: "Did you tell the ACB that you had received oral instructions from your superior to include it in Variation Order (VO) 3?"

Mr Yee: "I can't remember how it was put but they knew, it was part of the contract as a VO."

Mr Balwant: "Mr Yee. What was in your mind the most pertinent question the ACB asked you pertaining to this car park?"

Mr Yee: "I can't recall. Nothing strikes me."

Mr Balwant: "Nothing strikes you? What do you mean by nothing strikes you?"

Mr Yee: "It was all the usual questioning throughout."

Mr Balwant: "How many times were you questioned by the ACB?"

Mr Yee: "At least three times."

Mr Balwant: "The last being ... the year at least?"

Mr Yee: "I can't recall."

Mr Balwant: "Can't recall? Even the year?

Mr Yee: "I can't recall."

Hearing continues.  

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with