By G. Manimaran - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 — Elusive private investigator P. Balasubramaniam (picture) has declined to meet the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in Singapore in order to give his testimony about allegations surrounding the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
He is the MACC key witness in its investigation into allegations made about the involvement of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's family in the Mongolian model’s case.
“They (MACC) want to take my client’s testimony at our High Commission in Singapore, but we decline,” said his counsel Americk Sidhu to The Malaysian Insider.
He did not give specific reasons but it is known that Balasubramaniam has made his personal security a prerequisite for his testimony and was unwilling to compromise it.
Americk said his client had other objections too.
“They want to classify all our correspondences as ‘secrets’ under the OSA, which we disagree to, and I am not at liberty to say more until we receive feedback to our letter expressing our disagreement to the conditions they intend to impose on us,” said Americk.
In mid-January after becoming Chief Commissioner of the MACC Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed on Jan 1 stated that his team was willing to meet Balasubramaniam anywhere overseas to get his testimony, after the release of a new recording connected to Altantuya.
Balasubramaniam has been abroad for more than a year after making two statutory declarations (SD) in relations to Altantuya, who was murdered in 2006.
His second SD made the day after his first one, debunked his initial declaration.
Abu Kassim sees Balasubramaniam as the key witness in their investigations and has said the MACC is willing to take any measures to get Balasubramaniam’s assistance in the matter.
In early January Balasubramaniam expressed through his attorney that he was willing to speak to the MACC
In the email sent to the MACC, Balasubramaniam outlined six conditions, including having the interview in either Singapore or London.
Americk stressed that his client was willing to assist the MACC as long as his security was not compromised.
On Dec 4, PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin made a report and handed over recordings of a Balasubramaniam interview implicating Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s brother in the filing of his second contradictory SD.
The said interview was made with three lawyers in Singapore last year.
After local websites posted the interview, PKR Youth leaders filed a report to the MACC naming Datuk Nazim Razak and carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan, asking them to be investigated.
Deepak is alleged to be a close associate of Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of the prime minister.
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