Legislative Assembly | President’s office requests that officials in questioning remain anonymous

Sonia Chan

The Office of the President of the Legislative Assembly (AL) has requested without precedent that a formal question in writing, issued by lawmaker Leong Veng Chai and be presented to the AL, be revised to not include references to the current Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sonia Chan, the former holder of the role, Florinda Chan, and the region’s former top prosecutor, Ho Chio Meng.

Lawmaker Leong Veng Chai, who is a colleague of José Pereira Coutinho, was due to question the government on whether an investigation would be held into the alleged influence of Sonia Chan over the former top prosecutor, which may have resulted in the hiring of at least one of Chan’s relatives.

Chan, who denied that she abused her power to influence the hiring process when she was serving as the director of the Office of Personal Data Protection, said on Friday that she will be more careful with her behavior in future.

The denial is in response to a claim made by Ho Chio Meng during the trial of the former top prosecutor last week. Ho alleged that the current secretary, as well as the former holder of the post, Florinda Chan, had exerted their influence over the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) to recommend the hiring of their relatives at the MP.

Lawmaker Leong was informed by the Office of the President of the AL that it was inappropriate to use the names of Sonia Chan, Florinda Chan and Ho Chio Meng in his speech to the assembly, as “the case is still being tried in court.”

The lawmaker told Ponto Final that, “having been caught by surprise,” the lawmaker accepted the revisions, agreeing to the use of the term, “holders of the top posts,” in lieu of naming the current and former officials.

Sonia Chan admitted to reporters on Friday that although she recommended a relative to the position, the current secretary did not violate the law in doing so.

“Being the director of the Office for Personal Data Protection at that time, it was impossible for me to put any pressure [on Ho]” she told reporters on Friday.

“I do have relatives working at the Public Prosecutions Office. During that time, I had a chance to mention to the former chief prosecutor that there was such a candidate,” she added, according to TDM, “[but] I’ve had neither decision nor power on that matter,” she said, cited by public broadcaster TDM.

She also denied that there was any “exchange of benefits”, adding that: “I believe I did not violate the law or engage in any wrongdoing. I did not interfere in the procedures of the other party.  [The hiring] procedures were carried out according to the regulations.” DB

Friday session of Ho’s trial suspended

The trial of Ho Chio Meng had its latest session on Friday suspended shortly after its commencement following a procedural issue raised by the defense. The objection was raised by the defense when Ho was questioned about the delivery of contracts for his own alleged benefit. The defendant claimed that he was unable to adequately make his case without knowing the full details of the accusation.

The judges admitted that there was a discrepancy between the prosecution’s initial charge and the questioning levied against Ho during Friday’s session, however it was also noted that the discrepancy had been already redressed. Nevertheless, the court granted the suspension. The next session will take place today providing that Ho is in sufficient health to proceed.