French probe: Most of the info still P&C, Bala to issue statement

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Malaysian private investigator P Balasubramaniam has confirmed meeting the French police and also the Parisian legal team representing civil rights group SUARAM in connection to a graft probe involving Prime Minister Najib Razak’s purchase of two high-cost Scorpene submarines.

“Unfortunately, most of the information is still confidential between the French investigators, the lawyers and Bala,” SUARAM director Cynthia Gabriel told Malaysia Chronicle.

“But I am told Bala is aware of the huge public interest and will make a statement soon. His lawyers are preparing it.”

Kickback

Bala, a former Special Branch detective, found himself unexpectedly catapulted into international fame when he revealed information recounted to him by his former boss Razak Baginda.

The information which he laid out in a statutory declaration implicated Baginda, Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor in a thrilling tale of intrigue involving big-time money, sex, corruption and ending with the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, a beautiful 28-year old Mongolian translator who had helped to close Najib’s acquisition of the submarines from French defense firm DCNS.

Two former bodyguards of Najib’s and Rosmah’s have been sentenced to hang for killing Altantuya in Malaysia in 2006, but conspiracy theories still abound and most Malaysians believe the masterminds who ordered her murder were still at large.

In the French probe, the focus is on the corruption angle to the Scorpenes purchase. The two submarines cost Malaysian taxpayers 1.34 billio euros or RM6.7 billion, and what has rankled and is now at the heart of the French probe is a 114 million euros or RM570 million contract Najib awarded to his close friend Baginda as part of the acquisition package.

Was this amount a kickback? Malaysia’s ministry of defense has denied any irregularity, booking the amount as fees for co-ordination and support services. Yet Baginda’s firm Perimekar has no prior record of any knowledge of submarines technology or maintenance.

It is believed that the contract signed by the Malaysian authorities and DCNS contained an anti-corruption clause that prohibits any payment of commission or form of kickback.

Media blackout and harassment

Najib’s refusal to initiate any probes sparked public outrage and resulted in SUARAM lodging a complaint in Paris.Not only is there an unofficial blackout on the case, but some media editors have been warned against contacting Bala or face being arrested by the police.

In Paris itself, there are also whistle-blowers who want action to be taken against DCNS and some of their own politicians over the Malaysian purchase. DCNS has a notorious record of bribing its way through huge deals.

“For us, we are very curious firstly because of Altantuya, Najib and Rosmah and then the huge kickback that has been alleged from the purchase of the submarines. For the French, they are interested firstly because of the corruption that may involve DCNS and their own politicians,” Malaysian MP for Parit Buntar Mujahid Yusof Rawa told Malaysia Chronicle.

“Of course, they are also interested by Altantuya and how she was killed. But this case won’t fade away, not like the Lingam Tape in Malaysia. There is a very strong anti-graft lobby in Paris that is demanding for a total a clean-up in the way French defense giants like DCNS conduct business. They are not going to let go of this case. So this also means, there is no escape for the Malaysian side either.”