Bala spills all in Paris

PARIS: French police asked for details about the Altantuya murder although the focus of their investigation was alleged corruption in an arms deal between Malaysia and a French firm, according to Malaysia’s most famous private eye P Balasubramaniam, better known as PI Bala.

In a press statement released today, the former police special branch officer said he briefed the French investigator on events surrounding the murder and told what he knew about the relationships between Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu, arms deal broker Abdul Razak Baginda and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said he also revealed how he was threatened and bribed by one of Najib’s brothers, Nazim, and carpet seller Deepak Jaikishan, a good friend of Najib’s wife Rosmah.

Bala’s Monday meeting in Paris with French prosecutor M Ryckewaert lasted three hours.

The French are interested in information relating to Malaysia’s purchase of Scorpene submarines in 2002, when Najib was Defence Minister. They want to determine whether the French-based defence firm DCNS paid commissions in the deal, which would be illegal under French law.

Bala said: “I told them about the Malaysian company Perimekar, its ownership and links to (Abdul Razak) Baginda.

“I also told them of the presence of army equipment in Baginda’s office (and gave them) information concerning Baginda and his current whereabouts.”

Perimekar, which is owned by Abdul Razak’s wife, was paid RM570 million for “coordination and support services” as part of the Scorpene deal.

Abdul Razak hired Bala in October 2006, when Altantunya began harassing him for money. She was subsequently murdered and her body blown up by C-4 explosives in a secondary jungle near Shah Alam.

Two policemen—Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar—have been convicted for her murder. Abdul Razak was charged with abetting them but was eventually acquitted.

Bala said he told Ryckewaert what Altantuya told him—that her reward as translator in the deal was supposed to be USD500,000, that Abdul Razak actually made three payments to her of USD5,000 each, and that he bought her an apartment in Mongolia.

“I also touched upon Baginda’s relationship with the PM and the information and events narrated to me by Baginda, including the SMS sent by the PM to Baginda at the point of his arrest for the murder,” Bala said.

Two other names—Major Rahim and Abdul Rahim Saad—came up during the questioning, but Bala’s statement did not say who they were or what role they played in the scandal.