EXCLUSIVE Investigations by French authorities into the controversial RM7.3 billion Scorpene submarine deal, which allegedly involves kickbacks to top Malaysian officials as well, may shed light on the mystery surrounding the death of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Paris-based lawyer William Bourdon, who was in Penang yesterday, said the probe would probably reveal relevant details related to Altantuya's involvement in the purchase of the two French submarines by Malaysia.
Police investigations have already revealed that Altantuya and Abdul Razak Baginda, a close confidante of Prime Minister Najib Razak, had been beneficiaries of travel expenses paid by an obscure French company in Malta.
Bourdon (left), who wasdetained by immigration officers at the KL International Airport upon arriving from Penang about 10.30am today, said he had kept abreast of Altantuya's case since her death in 2006, and had noted that her murder trial had been overly dramatised.
Speaking to Malaysiakini in exclusive interview before his flight to KLIA earlier this morning, he said: "The manner in which the trial was conducted provoked many questions; a lot of obscurity remains regarding her murder."
The trial ended in 2008 with two of the bodyguards of Najib, who was then deputy prime minister and defence minister, being convicted of her murder.
The duo are currently appealing their death sentence. Abdul Razak, who had been charged with abetting the duo, was acquitted without being called to make his defence.
Observers had remarked that despite the high profile trial, two pertinent questions surrounding Altantuya's murder were yet to be answered: why was she killed and who ordered her killing?
Najib, who as defence minister was in charge of the mega Scorpene submarine deal, has denied any involvement in the murder.
On the Suaram case which the lawyer filed in Paris last year, Bourdon said he was confident he would be able to access the related documents and files very soon.
These expose is expected to bring to book high profile Malaysian officials who are said to have received kickbacks amounting to millions of ringgit from the submarine deal.
Bourdon said the case was still under the investigation phase, where the police still interrogating witnesses.
Paris-based lawyer William Bourdon, who was in Penang yesterday, said the probe would probably reveal relevant details related to Altantuya's involvement in the purchase of the two French submarines by Malaysia.
Police investigations have already revealed that Altantuya and Abdul Razak Baginda, a close confidante of Prime Minister Najib Razak, had been beneficiaries of travel expenses paid by an obscure French company in Malta.Bourdon (left), who wasdetained by immigration officers at the KL International Airport upon arriving from Penang about 10.30am today, said he had kept abreast of Altantuya's case since her death in 2006, and had noted that her murder trial had been overly dramatised.
Speaking to Malaysiakini in exclusive interview before his flight to KLIA earlier this morning, he said: "The manner in which the trial was conducted provoked many questions; a lot of obscurity remains regarding her murder."
The trial ended in 2008 with two of the bodyguards of Najib, who was then deputy prime minister and defence minister, being convicted of her murder.
The duo are currently appealing their death sentence. Abdul Razak, who had been charged with abetting the duo, was acquitted without being called to make his defence.
Observers had remarked that despite the high profile trial, two pertinent questions surrounding Altantuya's murder were yet to be answered: why was she killed and who ordered her killing?Najib, who as defence minister was in charge of the mega Scorpene submarine deal, has denied any involvement in the murder.
On the Suaram case which the lawyer filed in Paris last year, Bourdon said he was confident he would be able to access the related documents and files very soon.
These expose is expected to bring to book high profile Malaysian officials who are said to have received kickbacks amounting to millions of ringgit from the submarine deal.
Bourdon said the case was still under the investigation phase, where the police still interrogating witnesses.
[More to follow]
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.