As the clock ticks down to next week’s thriller-presser by private investigator P Balasubramaniam, there is widespread argument as to whether he and lawyers will really tell all they know about Prime Minister Najib Razak’s role in the Altantuya murder and the Scopenes graft scandal, or will they hold back some for a 'rainy day'.
“For the sake of their personal safety, it makes sense that they may wish to keep the some of the more incriminating evidence until they meet face-to-face with the Malaysian authorities. But even so, from what his lawyers have said, it looks like we can expect a real thriller," PKR strategic director Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.
From London to Paris
Tian was in London last month and also traveled to Paris with civil rights group SUARAM, where they met Parisian authorities probing Malaysia's purchase of two Scorpene submarines from French defense firm DCNS. SUARAM had lodged a complaint with the French prosecutors earlier this year about possible corruption in the deal, which may have set back Malaysian taxpayers by at least 114 euros or RM570 million.
The Scorpenes deal and the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaaribuu are intertwined. Altantuya is believed to have been a go-between in negotiations between Malaysia and DCNS. Najib, who was then the defense minister sanctioning the deal, has been accused by Bala of having been lovers with the 28-year old Altantuya. According to the former police officer, she was killed to stop her from blowing the whistle on the deal, which also involves Najib's close friend Razak Baginda. Bala was hired by Baginda to stop Altantuya from blackmailing him.
Meanwhile, Bala’s lawyer Americk Sidhu has confirmed that Bala will carry on with a press conference on July 7 to debrief the Malaysian public and the world at large on the torrid sex, murder and corruption scandal. His client fled Malaysia in 2008 after making a statutory declaration (see below) that contained many startling and even lurid details of the murder. He also touched on the defense ministry's whopping 1.34 billion euros submarines purchase.
Bala re-emerged from hiding late last year, offering to help the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in their investigations. He also told of how he was offered a RM5 million bribe to leave the country and keep silent on the case by Najib’s brother Nazim Razak and Deepak Jaikishan, a friend of Rosmah's. After delaying for several months, the MACC finally agreed to meet Bala in London July 5 and 6. However, on Wednesday, the commission canceled the meeting, citing advice from the Attorney-General.
“Let me add that whatever advice the MACC may have received from the Attorney General’s Chambers is highly suspect and devoid of any legal basis, but instead smacks of a hastily assembled concoction of very weak excuses designed to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation for those who are obviously in control,” Americk said in a statement issued in response to the MACC pullout.
What will Bala reveal this time
On Friday, the MACC told the press that it had sent by courier a list of questions for Bala to answer.
"We contacted his lawyer yesterday and we gave him options either to issue his own statement or to provide us with an affidavit. He agreed to respond to our questions and we have sent it via courier to him late this evening, since MACC is not sending a representative," MACC director of investigations Mustafar Ali said.
Meanwhile, Americk confirmed that Bala would present himself at the venue, the Holiday Villa in London, as scheduled and give a press conference on July 7, regardless of whether the MACC showed up. Bala has promised to make further revelations and all eyes and ears are now trained on what more he will expose.
“I would not wish to speculate too much. It’s just a few days more. But I think it is entirely possible he may give a more details about his meeting with Nazim and Deepak. I think Malaysians are also interested to know about Rosmah’s role in the whole affair,” PKR Youth Chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin told Malaysia Chronicle. Shamsul and his wing were the ones who had initiated the reports with the MACC, urging the corruption agency to investigate without fear or favor.
“It is also not impossible that he may clarify some of the details in his first statutory declaration. For example, the Proton car in front of Razak’s house - was it really Nasir Safar’s? How does he know? After that, he will also be going to Paris to be interviewed by the French authorities. The probe in Paris will centre on the submarines rather than the murder, but either way, Najib’s role will be dredged out whether the MACC goes to London or not.”
by Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle
“For the sake of their personal safety, it makes sense that they may wish to keep the some of the more incriminating evidence until they meet face-to-face with the Malaysian authorities. But even so, from what his lawyers have said, it looks like we can expect a real thriller," PKR strategic director Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.From London to Paris
Tian was in London last month and also traveled to Paris with civil rights group SUARAM, where they met Parisian authorities probing Malaysia's purchase of two Scorpene submarines from French defense firm DCNS. SUARAM had lodged a complaint with the French prosecutors earlier this year about possible corruption in the deal, which may have set back Malaysian taxpayers by at least 114 euros or RM570 million.
The Scorpenes deal and the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaaribuu are intertwined. Altantuya is believed to have been a go-between in negotiations between Malaysia and DCNS. Najib, who was then the defense minister sanctioning the deal, has been accused by Bala of having been lovers with the 28-year old Altantuya. According to the former police officer, she was killed to stop her from blowing the whistle on the deal, which also involves Najib's close friend Razak Baginda. Bala was hired by Baginda to stop Altantuya from blackmailing him.
Meanwhile, Bala’s lawyer Americk Sidhu has confirmed that Bala will carry on with a press conference on July 7 to debrief the Malaysian public and the world at large on the torrid sex, murder and corruption scandal. His client fled Malaysia in 2008 after making a statutory declaration (see below) that contained many startling and even lurid details of the murder. He also touched on the defense ministry's whopping 1.34 billion euros submarines purchase.Bala re-emerged from hiding late last year, offering to help the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in their investigations. He also told of how he was offered a RM5 million bribe to leave the country and keep silent on the case by Najib’s brother Nazim Razak and Deepak Jaikishan, a friend of Rosmah's. After delaying for several months, the MACC finally agreed to meet Bala in London July 5 and 6. However, on Wednesday, the commission canceled the meeting, citing advice from the Attorney-General.
“Let me add that whatever advice the MACC may have received from the Attorney General’s Chambers is highly suspect and devoid of any legal basis, but instead smacks of a hastily assembled concoction of very weak excuses designed to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation for those who are obviously in control,” Americk said in a statement issued in response to the MACC pullout.
What will Bala reveal this time
On Friday, the MACC told the press that it had sent by courier a list of questions for Bala to answer.
"We contacted his lawyer yesterday and we gave him options either to issue his own statement or to provide us with an affidavit. He agreed to respond to our questions and we have sent it via courier to him late this evening, since MACC is not sending a representative," MACC director of investigations Mustafar Ali said.
Meanwhile, Americk confirmed that Bala would present himself at the venue, the Holiday Villa in London, as scheduled and give a press conference on July 7, regardless of whether the MACC showed up. Bala has promised to make further revelations and all eyes and ears are now trained on what more he will expose.
“I would not wish to speculate too much. It’s just a few days more. But I think it is entirely possible he may give a more details about his meeting with Nazim and Deepak. I think Malaysians are also interested to know about Rosmah’s role in the whole affair,” PKR Youth Chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin told Malaysia Chronicle. Shamsul and his wing were the ones who had initiated the reports with the MACC, urging the corruption agency to investigate without fear or favor.
“It is also not impossible that he may clarify some of the details in his first statutory declaration. For example, the Proton car in front of Razak’s house - was it really Nasir Safar’s? How does he know? After that, he will also be going to Paris to be interviewed by the French authorities. The probe in Paris will centre on the submarines rather than the murder, but either way, Najib’s role will be dredged out whether the MACC goes to London or not.”
by Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle
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