Cops take statement from RPK at Bangkok hotel

This is after he told the Malaysian embassy officials that he was ready to cooperate to give a statement, but will do so at his hotel and not at the embassy.

FULL REPORT

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian police tonight took statement from popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin at a Bangkok hotel after he refused to give a statement at the Malaysian embassy in the Thai capital.

It is believed that Raja Petra has been asked to give a statement involving his statutory declaration (SD) which he signed on June 2008.

“Two Malaysian police officers are at Raja Petra’s hotel now (to take his statement). Raja Petra told them that he would cooperate with them,” his lawyer Haris Ibrahim told FMT.

Raja Petra, popular known as RPK, was approached by Malaysian embassy officials in Bangkok earlier today, asking him to be present at the embassy at 9pm tonight to give a statement to two visiting Malaysian police officers.

He however informed the embassy officials that he would not be going to the embassy, and told them that he was willing to meet them at his hotel in Bangkok tomorrow.

“We (his lawyers) advised him not to go to the embassy and he has agreed to listen to us,” said Haris.

“We informed the embassy officials that Raja Petra was willing to cooperate with them and the police.

“He is ready to meet the officials tomorrow at his hotel, not at the embassy,” said Haris who is also Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement president .

Statement tonight

However the police officials decided to meet Raja Petra at his hotel tonight for the statement, added Haris.

Raja Petra is in Bangkok to attend an MCLM event. He is the president of the civil liberties movement. He met up with Malaysians and launched the Thailand Chapter of the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement.

“Embassy officials told him in person just before this afternoon at the MCLM event at the Florida Hotel in Bangkok to be present at the embassy right after the event,” said Haris.

Haris also stressed that RPK was not arrested by the embassy officials.

“The officials told him that there were two police officials waiting to take a statement from him. We told them he will cooperate with the police, but not at the embassy,” added Haris.

TV3 interview

In his SD, Raja Petra had claimed that he was informed by a senior military intelligence officer of the alleged involvement of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

However two weeks ago, RPK in a TV3 interview said that he was asked to discredit Najib so that another Umno veteran, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, can replace Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the prime minister. He also said that PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim was aware of the plot.

Following the TV3 interview, the police have taken statements from several individuals, including one linked to Anwar yesterday.

Raja Petra’s site Malaysia Today reported that it was not known if he would be arrested if he appears at the Malaysian embassy.