New Witness Brought In To Testify Before High Court By Abdul Rahim Mohd Taib

Bandar Seri Begawan - A new witness was brought yesterday before the High Court in the continuation of the former minister of development's corruption trial with his alleged corespondent Wong Tim Kai, the Managing Director of TED Sdn Bhd. Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Mohammed Saied presided over the sessions in the morning and the afternoon.

Pengiran Tejudin Pengiran Puteh, who is referred to as "PW19" or the prosecution's witness number 19 in the court's files, read his statement in Malay to the court yesterday. Pengiran Tejudin is currently the senior administrative officer at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

He told the High Court that on December 1, 1990, he was a Grade One Administrative Officer attached to the Ministry of Development. He was promoted to the Special Grade Administrative Officer with effect January 1, 1991.

He told the High Court that in January 1991, he processed a memorandum dated January 14, 1991 from the Commissioner of Land concerning an application from Pehin Kapitan Cina Dato Lim Teck Hoo on behalf of TED Sdn Bhd for 2.45 acres of industrial Temporary Occupation Licence land at Kg Mulaut. He stated that in relation to TED Sdn Bhd's application, it was decided the application was not approved. "However, the Brunei-Muara District Land Officer would advise Pehin Kapitan Cina Dato Lim Teck Hoo to submit an appeal in writing and with that appeal, the application for TOL land for the approximate area of 1.3 acres would be approved."

The decision was based on the fact that one of the owners of the company was a citizen of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam. The witness confirmed he received the undated memorandum from the Commissioner of Land who forwarded a letter from TED Sdn Bhd appealing for the original area of 2.45 acres to be maintained.

Chief Prosecutor Andrew MacRae asked the witness about the procedure for approving or dealing with appeals. He said, "As far as I can remember, the usual process for each application or an appeal, should be submitted through the Commissioner of Land."

Andrew MacRae led the prosecution assisted by Maggie Wong, DPP Aldilla Mohd Salleh and DPP Azrimah Abdul Rahman. The defence consisted of Ahmad Basuni Abas and Malaysian Balwant Singh Sidhu representing Wong Tim Kai, assisted by Edward Tan from local firm Fathan, Rudi Lee & Co. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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