Malaysian tycoon, others tried to sway judges

MALAYSIA: A Malaysian tycoon and a former government minister were involved in a covert campaign to influence judicial appointments seven years ago, an official inquiry found on Friday.

The inquiry’s 186-page report named tycoon Vincent Tan, major shareholder of property to gaming conglomerate Berjaya Group, and the then de facto law minister, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, as well as a lawyer known as V.K. Lingam.

The inquiry, sparked by evidence of a 2001 judicial scandal that only emerged last year, did not speculate on the reason for the attempt to hold sway over judicial appointments.

Putrajaya, Friday, Reuters