Proof of 'Copgate' affair right under Hisham's nose?!

EXCLUSIVE Malaysiakini has obtained information that evidence in the 'Copgate' affair which Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein is demanding to kick-start an investigation into the scandal could well be under his nose.

Part of this information is in the form of a letter dated Sept 12, 2007 that cites the actions of the Attorney-General's (AG) Chambers and the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) that led to exposure of the identity of police informants who had helped in the arrest of Johor underworld figure Goh Cheng Poh akaTengku Goh.

The letter was addressed to deputy internal security minister Johari Baharom, by the lawyer for former Commercial Crime Investigation Department chief Ramli Yusuff.

Hishammuddin (right in photo), responding to a Malaysiakini report that stated how the whistleblowers - whose information led to the arrest of Tengku Goh in 2007 - had been forced to implicate six police officers investigating the case.

Hishammuddin had asked for proof of collusion among then Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, AG Abdul Gani Patail and Tengku Goh in covering up a corruption case that was being investigated.

The home minister's response to the report on Monday was: "Prove it, prove it. If they prove it, we can take action."

The letter from Ramli's lawyer to Johari states that following Tengku Goh's arrest and placement under restricted residence in Jeli, Kelantan, on Aug 8, 2007, information was leaked to several press organisations that reported that the ACA was probing allegations of abuse of power in the "investigations, arrest, detention and issuance of the restricted residence order" against the kingpin.

Also, the news reports claimed that Tengku Goh had been cleared.