Malaysia tycoon, others tried to sway judges-report

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, May 16 (Reuters) - A Malaysian tycoon and a former government minister were involved in a covert campaign to influence judicial appointments seven years ago, an official inquiry found on Friday.

The inquiry's 186-page report named tycoon Vincent Tan, major shareholder of property to gaming conglomerate Berjaya Group, and the then de facto law minister, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, as well as a lawyer known as V.K. Lingam.

The inquiry, sparked by evidence of a 2001 judicial scandal that only emerged last year, did not speculate on the reason for the attempt to hold sway over judicial appointments. But it said some of the country's most serious criminals laws, including the Sedition Act and the Penal Code, could have been breached.

"We are of the view that there was, conceivably, an insidious movement by V.K. Lingam, with the covert assistance of his close friends, Vincent Tan and Tengku Adnan, to involve themselves actively in the appointment of judges...," the report said. (Reporting by Soo Ai Peng, Writing by Mark Bendeich; Editing by David Fogarty)