Long Lai is an officer in the Ministry of Finance. He is the unit leader in the Department of Housing Loans. Two days before Hari Raya, Long Lai received a letter from the Disciplinary Board of the Ministry asking him to appear before an inquiry panel concerning several loan approvals which he was alleged to have made without his superior's consent. Long Lai is expected to be present for the inquiry one week after receiving the letter.

Before he went back that day, Long Lai was given two sets of documents relating to his case which consisted of all the relevant evidence that the panel wanted to use against him in the inquiry. He was also aware that the person who accused him of the allegations was Long Syuk, a unit leader from another department. They had not been on good terms with each other because Long Syuk had accused him of stealing some money from the office when they were both working in the same department 10 years ago. After consulting some of his friends, Long Lai decided to bring his colleagues, Pah Bedebah and Juling to assist him in giving statements relating to the allegations.

One week after Hari Raya, he attended the inquiry which consisted of five panels including Long Syuk. They agreed to allow Pah Bedebah and Juling to give statements for Long Lai. However, Long Lai was not allowed to cross-examine witnesses who testified on behalf of the Ministry on the ground that he had not made such a request in advance. At the hearing, he was also informed that the Board had received several reports complaining that he was always asleep while on duty. Long Lai was suspended for six months after the inquiry. He was quite sure that there was something wrong with the decision.

Advise Long Lai.

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