SINGAPORE (May 27): The prosecution and defence in the 2013 penny stock crash trial on May 23 crossed swords over how conditioned statements had been prepared and the relevance of questions raised in the cross-examination of these statements.
Deputy public prosecutor Peter Koy said questions by the defence counsel for alleged co-conspirators John Soh Chee Wen and Quah Su-Ling were a “distraction from the facts”.
“Questions as to what was shown to the witness, what trade and telephone data was shown to the witness and which data was filtered and shown to the witness are irrelevant to whether the accused persons instructed the trades,” he said.
“Much time has been spent in this trial in the cross-examination of witnesses on the drafting and preparation of their conditioned statements, asking them hypothetical questions and possibilities, instead of challenging the witnesses on their evidence and putting the defence’s case to them,” he added. “Such questions are also a distraction from the facts in issue.”
Koy explained the difference between litigation privilege and legal advice privilege.
“[Legal advice privilege] is concerned with protecting confidential communications between lawyers and clients, and [litigation privilege] is concerned with protecting information and materials created and collected for the dominant purpose of litigation,” he said.
Senior counsel N Sreenivasan, the defence counsel for Soh, refuted these points. He argued that it was relevant to assess whether a witness’ evidence in trial was “unvarnished [and] uncontaminated evidence”.
His view was seconded by Quah’s defence counsel, represented by Sui Yi Siong, a senior associate at Eversheds Harry Elias.
“It is also a truism of the criminal justice process that cross-examination is the greatest legal engine invented for truth, and we are here to find the truth. We are entitled to cross-examine how they are prepared,” Sui said.
Justice Hoo Sheau Peng disagreed with the prosecution’s submissions. “To test the reliability of the contents of a conditioned statement, as well as the recollection of events by the witness, it may well be necessary to question the witness on the preparation of the statement and how he was prepared for his evidence in court,” Hoo explained.
Later, in his re-examination of former Maybank Kim Eng Securities (MBKE) dealer Ong Kah Chye, Koy referred Ong to the two trades made through the Friendship Bridge account. He asked Ong to recollect if Soh had given him any instructions, as he had received and made calls to Soh close to the time of the transactions. “I will not say firmly the instructions were from [Soh], because there was a certain time lapse,” Ong replied.
Later in the day, MBKE remisier Lim Teck Leong took the stand as the 12th prosecution witness — and the final in the first tranche of witnesses in the trial. Lim was a covering officer for Ong, which meant that he would take Ong’s calls when the latter was away. Lim said he would “help [Ong] execute his clients’ trade instructions by keying them into my trading terminal”.
During cross-examination, Sreenivasan asked Lim if he knew Soh personally. Lim responded that he did not, and only performed Soh’s trades when “[Ong] was not around”. He added that he had performed the trades requested by Soh.
Sreenivasan then drew reference to the three instances highlighted in Lim’s statement to the Commercial Affairs Department. He asked how Lim identified them as situations in which Soh had given instructions.
Lim responded that he had identified them based on the call logs and trade transaction data presented to him by the Investigating Officer.
“The fact is somebody else told you and you parroted it in your statement,” Sreenivasan said.
The hearings for the second tranche of witnesses begin on Aug 19.
What the 2013 Penny Stock Crash trial is about
John Soh Chee Wen is the alleged mastermind behind the penny stock crash of 2013, which prosecutors have called “the most audacious, extensive and injurious market manipulation scheme ever in Singapore”.
Together with his alleged co-conspirator and girlfriend Quah Su-Ling, Soh and his associates are alleged to have been behind the massive rise and sudden collapse of shares in Blumont Group, LionGold Corp and Asiasons Capital (now Attilan Group), which wiped out some $8 billion in market value.
Subscribers can click here to read our 8-page special pullout on the penny stock crash trial.
Don’t miss out on these highlights in the penny stock saga so far:
- John Soh, alleged mastermind behind penny stock crash arrested; to be charged on Friday
- John Soh, Quah Su-Ling and Goh Hin Calm set to be charged
- John Soh Chee Wen and Quah Su-Ling charged in largest market manipulation scheme in Singapore’s history
- Charges slapped on masterminds of penny stock scheme cast new light on old reports
- Prosecutors confirm links between ISR Capital and John Soh
- John Soh-linked ISR Capital’s CEO Quah Su Yin resigns
- Penny stock saga’s alleged mastermind John Soh denied bail; faces total of 188 charges
- John Soh could face longest-ever jail term for financial crime in Singapore
- John Soh's legal team from WongPartnership discharges itself
- John Soh's 'treasurer' Goh quits as interim CEO of IPCO
- Defence lawyers for alleged masterminds attempt to pin 2013 penny stock crash on forced selling
- 2013 penny stock crash case to go to trial
- Alleged 'treasurer' Goh Hin Calm to testify against Soh, Quah
- Penny stock crash scandal's 'treasurer' sentenced to three years' jail
- Goh Hin Calm confirmed as prosecution witness as penny stock crash trial kicks off
- The charismatic bankrupt who allegedly pulled the strings behind Singapore's largest stock manipulation scandal
- Inner workings of penny stock scandal revealed by first prosecution witness
- Prosecution witness coached by investigating officer, claims John Soh's lawyer
- Quah Su-Ling's lawyer accuses prosecution witness of 'inventing evidence', front-running
- Ex-remisier admits to conducting trades without third-party authorisation from account holders
- Ex-remisier Ng denies being coached; RHB trader Alex Chew admits to telling the whole truth only in third statement
- 'Fearful' prosecution witness admits even third statement might not have been the whole truth
- John Soh gave presentation on 'mothership' Blumont at LionGold's offices, says prosecution witness Andy Lee
- Prosecution witness Lee accused of lying and concealing facts in court
- New witness claims Quah Su-Ling was 'hysterical' when asked about settlement of losses
- More telephone records reveal Quah's hand behind trades; private bank Coutts wrote off $4.7 mil from penny stock crash
- Witness shocked by alleged breaches in trading regulations
- SGX restrictions could have caused 2013 penny stocks crash, says Lim & Tan director
- John Soh's former girlfriend had full control of bank account used in trading, court hears
- Quah's employee delivered cash payments for 8 accounts, court hears
- Witness cites 'clerical oversight' as defence alleges lack of anti-money laundering checks
- Ex-Maybank Kim Eng dealer admits Soh gave orders on trades in 3 accounts
- Counsels argue over how witnesses' conditioned statements were prepared and used
- Witnesses say John Soh, Quah Su-Ling directed 2013 stock manipulation trades
