"CRIMINAL" first couple? Deepak quizzed by MACC over 'payoff' to cover up Altantuya murder

UPDATED The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission has hauled up controversial businessman Deepak Jaikishan for questioning over a string of allegations he has leveled at Prime Minister Najib Razak and wife Rosmah Mansor.

The MACC move comes hot on the heels of comments made a day ago by Najib that Deepak was "not a credible person" and the allegations that he and Rosmah had sought Deepak's help in getting a damning statutory declaration retracted were "not true".

"I wish to inform that I have finally been asked to visit MACC Putrajaya Block D6 Parcel D, at 4pm today regarding SD2," Deepak wrote in an email received by Malaysia Chronicle.

"On another note, I welcome the invitation by (PAS vice president) Dato Mahfuz to meet him regarding my immunity request to Pakatan Rakyat and hope to meet him by tomorrow at PAS HQ. According to him and as confirmed by my solicitors I will be eligible for immunity as enshrined in our Malaysian constitution as the crimes committed by the first couple are criminal in nature."

Criminal in nature

Once a part of Rosmah's inner circle, the 40-year-old Deepak recently went on the offensive against his former benefactor after a business falling out over several deals including a Ministry of Defense land privatization contract that also involves Selangor Umno Women's chief Raja Ropiaah.

Deepak has vowed to continue with his slew of corruption allegations againt the Najibs, saying that there was no turning back. "I think we have reached the stage where we have burned our bridges," Deepak had told Malaysia Chronicleat a previous press conference.

On Friday evening after spending less than an hour with 2 MACC officers, Deepak met with the press. He plans to hold a full-fledged media conference after compiling more data.

"It was about the SD2. They wanted to know about my role and asked me to furnish them with some documents. They seem very interested about the funds flow - how Bala was paid off," Deepak told Malaysia Chronicle.

Huge sum of money changed hands

SD2 refers to the second statutory declaration that Deepak alleges he was asked by the Najibs to "facilitate". In his expose' Deepak revealed that it was Rosmah who had called him "out of the blue" after a private investigator P Balasubramaniam made public a statutory declaration implicating both her and Najib in the sensational Altantuya murder case.

Najib, who was then the Deputy Prime Minister was poised to assume the topmost post, and according to Deepak, the couple feared the negative impact of the SD1 revelations would hinder his promotion. Both Najib and Rosmah have however denied any knowledge of the Altantuya killing.

The beautiful 28-year-old Mongolian national had been killed by two of Najib's former bodyguards in a jungle clearing in Selangor and her body bombed to bits to prevent identification. Both men were sentenced to hang and are now on Death Row awaiting their appeal to be heard. Nonetheless, most Malaysians as well as Altantuya's family believe the real culprits who masterminded her murder are still at large.

Altantuya is believed to have been killed because of her knowledge of the RM7.3bil Scorpenes acquisition sanctioned by Najib, when he was the Defense minister in 2002. He has been accused of receiving a 114 million euros or RM570mil bribe from French firm DCNS for agreeing to the purchase via his close friend Razak Baginda.

Bala had worked for Baginda and made public his knowledge of the events leading to the night of the Altantuya abduction and murder in a statutory declaration (SD1) in 2008. But in less than 24 hours, Bala controversially issued another statement SD2 to retract all the implicating statements he made against Najib and Rosmah in SD1. In 2009, Bala also revealed that he was offered a huge sum of money by Najib's architect brother Nazim to overturn SD1 and leave Malaysia.

Rough ride ahead for Deepak

Late last year, Deepak revived the Najibs' nightmare when he began to give his account of what had happened. Deepak 'confirmed' Bala's allegation about Nazim and further revealed that prominent lawyer Cecil Abraham and son Suresh had been roped in by the Najibs to draft SD2.

Needless to say, the entire episode has damaged Najib's credibility. Many in Umno have called for him to step down in favor of his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin so that the party can improve its chances in the coming general election.

Last night, Najib failed to seize the opportunity to clear himself, refusing to shed light on the issue when asked at a press conference if the Deepak allegations were true.

"Not true. (Deepak is) not a credible person. This is not an issue,” said a gaunt-looking Najib before clamping up.

Rosmah, hounded by the press, also could not hide her stress over the issue. "I am very busy with the Girl Guides. Don't ask me any questions," she snapped when accosted by reporters at a function earlier on Friday.

The Najibs' discomfort has given Deepak the last laugh, although it looks like he is in store for a rough ride ahead, with the MACC and police likely to give him a hard time.

It is obvious Deepak has a lot more information he has not made public yet. However, the MACC comes under the direct purview of the PM's office while the police answer to the Home Ministry headed by Najib's cousin, Hishammuddin Hussein, and they may hamper Deepak's bid to blow the whistle on the first couple.

"It looks like your reply is the one that is 'not credible' while whatever I have exposed in great detail about this murder case is the truth," was Deepak's defiant retort to Najib's gibe that he was not a credible person.