ACCEPTANCE OF

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam asked the Prime Minister whether any action will be taken against the transport companies that gave "coffee money" to the CISCO personnel escorting their vehicles.

Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam (Non-Constituency Member): Sir, Question No. 20. Before the Question is answered, may I say that I acted, before I ceased practice, as a lawyer for two of these men. But I have no pecuniary interest in this Question at all.

The Minister for Law (Prof. S. Jayakumar) (for the Prime Minister): Sir, in answer to the Question, let me say that it is both premature and improper to say at this stage whether the transport companies would be prosecuted or not. This is because the trials of some of the CISCO officers are still underway and CPIB is awaiting the consent of the Attorney-General for prosecution of others. Upon the conclusion of the trial against the CISCO officers and based on the available evidence, the CPIB will then make appropriate recommendations to the Attorney-General whether to proceed against the transport company.

Mr Jeyaretnam: May I ask whether the Ministry, or the Prime Minister, is aware that these CISCO personnel were given these little sums of money without them asking for it? They were given at the end of their task.

Prof. Jayakumar: Mr Speaker, Sir, it would have been obvious from my main answer that these are issues not to be considered by the Prime Minister or the Minister. These are essentially matters to be considered by the Attorney-General who, under the Constitution, is charged with the duty and function of prosecutorial decisions.