Ex-Minister Corruption Trial Resumes
By Hadi DP Mahmud

Bandar Seri Begawan - A prosecution witness in the corruption case involving former minister of development Pg Indera Wijaya Pg Dr Ismail Pg Damit and his alleged correspondent Wong Tim Kai, acknowledged the existence of a memo signed by Acting Permanent Secretary of the ministry of development in 1994 which contained a complaint over the insufficient TOL land being granted to applicants.

Pg Tejudin Pg Puteh, currently a senior administrative officer at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, also acknowledged that the memo, which spoke of a meeting between the former minister and the Commissioner of Land was copied to all relevant officers.

"Would you agree the main thrust of the memo is the complaint that the site that was approved were insufficient for the activity to be carried out by the various applicants?" asked Christopher Fernando, a Malaysian defence lawyer who appeared for the ex-minister.

"Yes," said Pg Tejudin. Fernando opened the session yesterday by presenting a defence evidence to Pg Tejudin. Chief Justice Dato Seri Paduka Mohammed Saied presided.

"Would you agree this memo which was sent to various relevant officers in various departments stressed to take action," asked Fernando. The witness said yes. Then, Fernando asked, "Would it be accurate to say the applicant company was not involved in the co-ordination process?" "I'm not sure and I don't know about this," said Pg Tejudin.

"What is stressed in Paragraph 2.1, is that this coordination exercise involves ascertaining the position and area of sites that can be recommended and -more importantly sites that are appropriate for the activities to be carried out by various applicant companies which are genuinely to be carried out?"

"Yes, that I can understand as being stated in paragraph 2.1 in this memo and also I'm glad to add that the memo was not written by me and now I would like to say that the interpretation should be referred to the officer involved, as I can remember I was not involved in the meeting.

I was only given a copy of the memo," said Pg Tejudin. The ex-minister and Wong Tim Kai are facing corruption, charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Penal Code.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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