GR 350
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL HICK
10015
2 1 NOV 1983
FM HONG KONG 180740Z NOV 33
TO IMMEDIATE KUALA LUMPUR
TELEGRAM NUMBER 19 OF 18 NOVEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE FCO
ENY
NIT
YOUR TELNOS 416 AND 439: BANK BUMIPUTRA
1. APOLOGIES FOR THE DELAY IN RESPONDING.
IN
PA
2. THE ONLY ITEMS WHICH BMG OFFICIALS VOLUNTARILY SURRENDERED TO
THE POLICE WERE JALIL IBRAHIM'S DIARY, HIS BRIEFCASE, SET OF KEYS TO HAS FLAT AND FOUR ENVELOPES WHICH BMF OFFICIALS HAD FOUND IN THE FLAT CONTAINING PERSONAL AND OFFICIAL BANK DOCUMENTS. HOWEVER, THE DOCUMENTS WHICH REVEALED THE TRUE EXTENT OF BMF'S LENDING TO CARRIAN WERE SENZED ON WARRANT. SMF'S LAWYERS ALLEGE THAT ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE SEIZURE GAVE AN UNDERTAKING THAT THE DOCUMENTS SEIZED WOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL TO THE POLICE FORCE. NO (NO) SUCH UNDERTAKING WAS GIVEN. AS A MATTER OF COURSE, COMMERCIAL CRIME BRUEAU OFFICERS WERE ATTACHED TO THE MURDER INVESTIGATHON TEAM. THE TEAM WERE ENTITLED TO SEEK THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CAR:ÞAN/EDA INSPECTORS IN INTERPRETING THE SEIZED DOCUMENTS.
THE INSPECTOR SHAVING ESTABLISHED THAT THE DOCUMENTS WERE RELEVANT TO THEIR ENQUIRIES, WERE ALSO ENTITLED TO PRESCRIBE THEM. THE POLICE HANDLING OF THESE DOCUMENTS WAS THE SUBJECT OF CONSULTATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS, WHO APPROVED THE LINE OF ACTION TAKEN BY THE POLICE.
3. THE TRIAL OF MAK FOON-THAN FOR THE MURDER OF JALIL IBRAHIM IS DUE TO BEGIN ON 4 JANUARY 1934. NORMAL COMMITAL PROCEEDINGS WERE AVOIDED BY A VOLUNTARY BILL OF INDICTMENT. CONSIDERATION IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SEEKING TO HOLD THE WHOLE OR PWRT OF THE TRIAL IN CAMERA, ON THE GROUND THAT TO DO OTHERWISE MIGHT PREJUDICE THE COMMITTAL HEARING (SCHEDULED FOR 1 MARCH 1984) AND ANHY SUBSEQUENT TRIAL OF GEORGE TAN. SOME MILEAGE MIGHT BE MADE WITH THE MALAYS HANS OF THE FACT THAT MAK'S COMMITTAL FOR TRIAL WAS DISCREET, AS WELL AS OF ANY DECISION TO HEAR EVIDENCE IN CAMERA (EVEN THOUGH THE PURPOSE IS NOT TO PLEASE THE MALAYSIANS).
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MR D HOLLAND CMG H03 BY ENGLAND
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NEWS D
PS/ MRLUCE PSIPUS
MRG IFFARD MRDONALD
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