French judges 'meant to process' Altantuya's murder

The question of Altantuya Shariibuu’s murder is “meant to be processed” by the French judges currently conducting an inquiry into alleged corruption in the Scorpene case, said French lawyer William Bourdon.

As such, Bourdon (left), who is representing human rights NGO Suaram in the Scorpene case, said that the testimony of lawyer Americk Sidhu would help to reveal its connections to supposed “corrupt activities”.

Americk had prepared the explosive first statutory declaration (SD) by private investigator P  Balasubramaniam, better known as PI Bala, in 2008 pertaining to the murder of the Mongolian national.

Bourdon was responding to a statement made by negotiator Jasbir Singh Chah, the ‘architect’ of the Scorpene deal, on Saturday that Altantuya had no role in the negotiations and that the French courts were not looking at her death.

“...For the possible links between the circumstances around Altantuya's death and corrupt activities, even if the French judges are not seized of Altantuya's murder directly, this question of her murder is meant to be processed by the French judges.

“Accordingly, the testimony of Americk Sidhu should help to reveal the different connections that should be made with corrupt activities, as well as other testimonies that would likely be received by judges very soon,” Bourdon said in a statement today.

Altantuya was said to be a French interpreter for defence analyst Abdul Razak Baginda (left), with whom she was believed to be have romantic links. He was a central figure in the sale of two Scorpene submarines to Malaysia.

Altantuya was, however, found dead in October 2006, having been blown up with C4 explosives in a jungle clearing in Shah Alam.

Perimekar contract 'in line with commercial norms'

Bourdon also stated that as steps to hear Jasbir as a witness at the inquiry in France are still ongoing, “only statements made under oath before the judges will count”.

He added that results of the investigations will only be made known upon its completion, but the two judges are still in the midst of research and verifications in the case, including on Malaysian consulting company Perimekar Sdn Bhd, which had received money from the Malaysian government in the deal.

In 2006, deputy defence minister Zainal Abidin Zin stated that the commissions were paid "voluntarily" to Perimekar by the French parties in the deal.

However, in 2008, then defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Parliament the 114.96 million euros was paid out to to Perimekar, for "coordination services" and not as commissions.

According to the national news agency Bernama on Saturday, Jasbir in a statement had said that the contract between the Malaysian government and Perimekar was in line with commercial norms and that the payments fell within the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines.

He also noted that the price negotiated was “attractive” as the price for a single Scorpene Class submarine today was around RM6 billion while two were purchased by the government for less. at about RM4.2 billion.

He also said that Perimekar was nominated as the local vehicle to spearhead the project.

Hong Kong-based Terasasi Sdn Bhd, he added, was brought in as the external service provider to assist French company Thales International, also known as Thint Asia, which sold the submarines in a deal inked in 2002 when Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was defence minister.

Abdul Razak Baginda is one of the directors of Terasasi.