KUALA LUMPUR: The "Lingam tape" saga could see an interesting twist with DAP national chairman Karpal Singh keen to take up an offer by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz for Karpal to initiate prosecution on behalf of the government.

Nazri (Padang Rengas-BN) told reporters today that he was willing to persuade Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to appoint Karpal, who is a seasoned lawyer, to lead prosecution against Datuk V K Lingam for his role in allegedly brokering judicial appointments.

"If Karpal is willing to represent the AG, I will persuade the AG to engage Karpal to prosecute on behalf of the government.

"Let him [Karpal] charge... the government has no reason to defend Lingam," Nazri said.

However, Nazri said that prosecutors may not be able to press charges against Lingam as there were no specific laws that criminalise Lingam's alleged brokering of judges.

Nazri, the minister in charge of law and parliamentary affairs, noted that the AG had the powers to appoint a private legal practitioner to act in cases.

Abdul Gani had appointed criminal lawyer Tan Hock Chuan to lead the AG's team at the inquest into the death of political secretary Teoh Beng Hock.

Met by reporters, Karpal (Bukit Gelugor-DAP) appeared surprised at Nazri's offer but expressed willingness to take on the role.

"I am prepared to charge Lingam on the AG's behalf... what has to be done now is for Nazri to shoot me a fiat [an authoritative order]," Karpal said.

Lingam, whose full name is Kanagalingam Veluppillai, came into the public glare after the 2008 release of a secretly-filmed video clip featuring him allegedly speaking about the brokering of judges.

The veteran lawyer had also inspired political jokes with his famous catchphrases "Correct, correct, correct" and "It looks like me and sounds like me but it is not me".

A Royal Commission of Inquiry was established in early 2008 to investigate the matter and saw a host of high-profile witnesses including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former Chief Justices.

Nazri earlier told parliament that no action would be taken against Lingam as the case against the lawyer had been closed, with no further action.