The ‘young Chinese lawyer’ who had accompanied Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram to former Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali’s home in January 2018 has been identified as Tey Jun Ren.
Apandi, had during his conversation with Twentytwo13 last night, identified the lawyer by saying: “He is known as JR … Tey Jun Ren.”
“I think he is on his own (firm) … he gets along with this people, that people.”
Apandi yesterday alleged Sri Ram who wanted him to arrest then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, had been accompanied by ‘a young Chinese lawyer’.
Checks on the Malaysia Bar website showed Tey, a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia law graduate, was admitted to the Bar on Sept 6, 2013 with his firm based in Jalan Ampang.
This morning, Twentytwo13 reached out to Tey who, over the phone and through WhatsApp messages, requested that an email be sent regarding the matter.
Twentytwo13 sent Tey an email with several questions namely his views about Apandi’s claims, the purpose of his visit and presence at Apandi’s house as alleged and Tey’s relationship with Sri Ram.
Tey replied: “No comment.”
Sri Ram had also declined to comment on Apandi’s allegations, as reported by several dailies this morning.
Those close to Dr Mahathir said the former Prime Minister does not see the need to respond yet to Apandi’s Facebook posting, adding “it was something between Apandi and Sri Ram.”
Tey has represented several high-profile individuals in the past including a Tan Sri in connection with an alleged RM2 million bribe offer to Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar in 2017.
According to Markets Insider, a stock market site run by Business Insider, a Tey Jun Ren is listed as a shareholder (1.35 per cent) of Berjaya Corporation Berhad.
Apandi, had in a Facebook posting last night (8.08pm) made a damning allegation implicating former Federal Court judge turned lawyer Sri Ram and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He told Twentytwo13 that this was just the beginning of more revelations.
Apandi also told this news website he has “a lot to say”, adding “you will be reading it in my memoirs”.
“This chapter about Sri Ram is only a small part of it. There are so many other things. Batu Puteh incident … why Dr Mahathir withdrew the case at the eleventh hour although everything had been filed and fixed for hearing.”
“Banyak, banyak cerita (Many stories). A lot to write, a lot to tell,” he told Twentytwo13.
Apandi said he made posting because he wanted the people to know the truth.
Apandi had in posting yesterday, wrote:
He (Sri Ram) arrived at my house with a young Chinese lawyer, and upon sitting down, he launched into his long argument of why I shouldn’t have responded negatively but I countered him and explained that everything I had put in the reply was carefully thought out and argued amongst us in chambers.
Then suddenly, he said, that that was only an excuse to see me and that he had a bigger agenda at hand.
“Tun M sent me to see you.”
“ He wants you to arrest Najib at his office, you go tomorrow at 2pm, we have arranged for the police in Putrajaya to do what is necessary on your instructions. We have also arranged for a magistrate to issue the remand order when he is brought before him or her.”
“Brother, you will be a hero in the eyes of the people and you will be the first AG to arrest a sitting Prime Minister.”
“Don’t worry, we have laid the ground plans, all I need now is for you to agree.”
Then I asked him, “ On what grounds is he supposed to be arrested for?”
He said: “Brother, people out there are frustrated and unhappy, the fact that you arrest him, never mind the reason, will make people happy.”
Gopal Sri Ram was persuasive and he had wanted a response immediately. I said to let me sleep on it.
He then left with the young Chinese lawyer he brought with him.
(End of excerpt).
Apandi, during his conversation with Twentytwo13, dismissed the revelation was a political move, stressing he no longer had any links to Umno.
Apandi was appointed A-G during Najib’s time in office but was replaced by Tan Sri Tommy Thomas after Pakatan Harapan won the 14th general election in May 2018.
The Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition suffered an embarrassing defeat in the said election as Najib was implicated in several high-profile cases, namely SRC International and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
