Allow me to start from the very beginning. This is a long story, so please bear with me.
M Puravalen, (or Valen, as he is known to his colleagues), and I studied law together, at the Inns of Court, London, in 1980-81.
I have had a long and close relationship with Valen for the past 33 years. He has done nothing in that period of time that would make me suspect he was anything but a forthright and credible member of the legal profession.
I was introduced to former private investigator P Balasubramaniam or PI Bala (left) and ASP Suresh by Valen at a restaurant (Fogles, to be precise) at Plaza Damas in Sri Hartamas sometime in April 2008. It was a chance meeting. There were others present, and they can confirm this.
Valen had met Bala two years earlier, when Valen was engaged to represent Razak Baginda (before Razak was arrested). Bala and Razak were actually in Valen's office at 7.30am the day Razak was arrested.
This is when Razak received an SMS from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, saying, "I am seeing the IGP at 11.00am... all will be solved...stay cool" or words to that effect. Razak showed this SMS to both Bala and Valen and informed them it was from Najib.
This took Bala by surprise because prior to this incident, Razak had never referred to Najib. He had only ever referred to ‘the VVIP'. In other words, Bala did not realise that Najib was actually that VVIP until that SMS was received.
Back to Fogles. Later in the evening, the subject of Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder was brought up. I had no idea of Bala's involvement in the matter at that stage. As Bala talked, I became more intrigued as to the background of the entire affair.
As the restaurant we were in was closing, we decided to adjourn to the Backyard pub down the road to continue our conversation. This is when fellow lawyer R Sivarasa turned up and joined us. The discussion continued.
Sivarasa felt Bala's story ought to be documented in a statutory declaration as the Altantuya murder trial was still ongoing at that stage.
I have had a long and close relationship with Valen for the past 33 years. He has done nothing in that period of time that would make me suspect he was anything but a forthright and credible member of the legal profession.
I was introduced to former private investigator P Balasubramaniam or PI Bala (left) and ASP Suresh by Valen at a restaurant (Fogles, to be precise) at Plaza Damas in Sri Hartamas sometime in April 2008. It was a chance meeting. There were others present, and they can confirm this.Valen had met Bala two years earlier, when Valen was engaged to represent Razak Baginda (before Razak was arrested). Bala and Razak were actually in Valen's office at 7.30am the day Razak was arrested.
This is when Razak received an SMS from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, saying, "I am seeing the IGP at 11.00am... all will be solved...stay cool" or words to that effect. Razak showed this SMS to both Bala and Valen and informed them it was from Najib.
This took Bala by surprise because prior to this incident, Razak had never referred to Najib. He had only ever referred to ‘the VVIP'. In other words, Bala did not realise that Najib was actually that VVIP until that SMS was received.
Back to Fogles. Later in the evening, the subject of Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder was brought up. I had no idea of Bala's involvement in the matter at that stage. As Bala talked, I became more intrigued as to the background of the entire affair.
As the restaurant we were in was closing, we decided to adjourn to the Backyard pub down the road to continue our conversation. This is when fellow lawyer R Sivarasa turned up and joined us. The discussion continued.
Sivarasa felt Bala's story ought to be documented in a statutory declaration as the Altantuya murder trial was still ongoing at that stage.
And so began the meetings...
Unfortunately I was nominated as the best person to record all this evidence in the form of a statutory declaration as I was considered the most ‘impartial' person at the table. I had never been involved in politics and had no previous interest in the matter.
So began the meetings with Bala at my office, mostly during the weekends, when it was quiet and there were no distractions.
Bala and I went through everything systematically, from the time he was engaged to ‘protect' Razak Baginda (right) from the persistent demands made by Altantuya until the beginning of the murder trial.
As Bala related the unfolding of events to me, I recorded everything in long hand, pausing every so often to ‘cross-examine' Bala on certain points to ensure his memory was indeed vivid and that there was no embellishment of anything he was narrating to me.
Bala cross-checked each detail by reference to the archives he had stored in his lap top, which was always kept open before him throughout the entire interviews.
After approximately two months of painstakingly sifting through all the materials, I began composing a formal statutory declaration in a format reflecting the sequence of events in an easily digestible manner, as they were a little complicated.
It should be remembered that Bala had already given evidence in the Altantuya murder trial as a prosecution witness.
Unfortunately I was nominated as the best person to record all this evidence in the form of a statutory declaration as I was considered the most ‘impartial' person at the table. I had never been involved in politics and had no previous interest in the matter.
So began the meetings with Bala at my office, mostly during the weekends, when it was quiet and there were no distractions.
Bala and I went through everything systematically, from the time he was engaged to ‘protect' Razak Baginda (right) from the persistent demands made by Altantuya until the beginning of the murder trial.As Bala related the unfolding of events to me, I recorded everything in long hand, pausing every so often to ‘cross-examine' Bala on certain points to ensure his memory was indeed vivid and that there was no embellishment of anything he was narrating to me.
Bala cross-checked each detail by reference to the archives he had stored in his lap top, which was always kept open before him throughout the entire interviews.
After approximately two months of painstakingly sifting through all the materials, I began composing a formal statutory declaration in a format reflecting the sequence of events in an easily digestible manner, as they were a little complicated.
It should be remembered that Bala had already given evidence in the Altantuya murder trial as a prosecution witness.
'Pertinent questions left out in murder trial'
Bala was rather surprised that neither the prosecutors nor the defence counsel had bothered to ask him any pertinent and relevant questions that would have thrown some light on the events leading up to the murder, especially the chain of command.
What was even more surprising to Bala was the fact that he had provided the police with a lengthy statement, similar to that as set out in his first statutory declaration (SD). This, in effect, means that the prosecution was aware of his evidence well beforehand, but the ‘sensitive' issues were avoided wholesale.
This is part of the reason why the SD that I was in the process of preparing was of significance.
What was even more surprising to Bala was the fact that he had provided the police with a lengthy statement, similar to that as set out in his first statutory declaration (SD). This, in effect, means that the prosecution was aware of his evidence well beforehand, but the ‘sensitive' issues were avoided wholesale.
This is part of the reason why the SD that I was in the process of preparing was of significance.
I pause to point out at this stage that neither myself, nor Bala, had had any communication whatsoever with Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar did not even feature in the equation. The entire purpose of this exercise was to ensure justice for the murdered Mongolian girl and her family. There was no political angle involved.
Sometime at the end of June 2008, there was an inquiry from Sivarasa (left) asking whether the SD was ready. At that time it was almost completed. Siva suggested a press conference to release this SD, which we eventually agreed to do at PKR's head office in Merchant Square, Tropicana.
I wish to reiterate that no one had offered Bala or me any money to do this. If they had, I would have jettisoned the whole exercise immediately and distanced myself from it in no uncertain terms. I believed what Bala had told me, for the details and coincidences involved could not possibly have been concocted.
I am sure Valen (right) will be confirming this independently, that he did not receive any money from any party or person for his involvement and neither was he instructed to pay Bala anything, contrary to what has been alleged in RPK's latest article.
The night before the press conference (July 2, 2008), I was invited by Sivarasa to drop by at Valen's house. Bala, ASP Suresh, RPK, his wife Marina and their daughter and grandchild were there too. This is the first time I had met them. RPK was being briefed by Bala about the SD and the impending press conference was talked about.
We then proceeded to dinner at an Italian restaurant at Plaza Damas. Present at the table were RPK and his wife Marina, Valen, myself, Bala, ASP Suresh, and the CEO of a large Malaysian company and his wife.
The next morning,
we attended the press conference at the PKR headquarters at Tropicana (left).
Sometime at the end of June 2008, there was an inquiry from Sivarasa (left) asking whether the SD was ready. At that time it was almost completed. Siva suggested a press conference to release this SD, which we eventually agreed to do at PKR's head office in Merchant Square, Tropicana.I wish to reiterate that no one had offered Bala or me any money to do this. If they had, I would have jettisoned the whole exercise immediately and distanced myself from it in no uncertain terms. I believed what Bala had told me, for the details and coincidences involved could not possibly have been concocted.
I am sure Valen (right) will be confirming this independently, that he did not receive any money from any party or person for his involvement and neither was he instructed to pay Bala anything, contrary to what has been alleged in RPK's latest article.The night before the press conference (July 2, 2008), I was invited by Sivarasa to drop by at Valen's house. Bala, ASP Suresh, RPK, his wife Marina and their daughter and grandchild were there too. This is the first time I had met them. RPK was being briefed by Bala about the SD and the impending press conference was talked about.
We then proceeded to dinner at an Italian restaurant at Plaza Damas. Present at the table were RPK and his wife Marina, Valen, myself, Bala, ASP Suresh, and the CEO of a large Malaysian company and his wife.
The next morning,
we attended the press conference at the PKR headquarters at Tropicana (left).
After that press conference, most of those present adjourned to a coffee shop downstairs for lunch, including RPK and a number of other bloggers, PKR members and the press.
I digress to point out that ASP Suresh kept popping up with Bala from time to time. When I enquired from Bala what his relationship with the police officer was, he told me ASP Suresh and he were friends and that ASP Suresh was with the D9 division at Jalan Hang Tuah, but he had been suspended for some reason.
I digress to point out that ASP Suresh kept popping up with Bala from time to time. When I enquired from Bala what his relationship with the police officer was, he told me ASP Suresh and he were friends and that ASP Suresh was with the D9 division at Jalan Hang Tuah, but he had been suspended for some reason.
Apparently Bala had assisted ASP Suresh in obtaining phone records as he could get these faster than the police could. It was also revealed that ASP Suresh was involved in a pub called ‘Madurai' in Jalan Imbi and Bala used to work there as a ‘bouncer' whenever asked.
Now, one of the phone calls Bala received on his mobile phone that afternoon was from ASP Tonny from the Brickfields police station. ASP Tonny had been involved in the Altantuya investigations and had questioned Bala on a few occasions.
Now, one of the phone calls Bala received on his mobile phone that afternoon was from ASP Tonny from the Brickfields police station. ASP Tonny had been involved in the Altantuya investigations and had questioned Bala on a few occasions.
From the tenor of the conversation he had with Bala on the phone, I got the impression ASP Tonny was glad that Bala had come out publicly and revealed what he knew as it directly coincided with what Bala had been telling the police all along.
Frustrated by the cover-up?
The further impression I got from this conversation was that ASP Tonny and his colleagues, who had been involved in the Altantuya investigations, were frustrated by the fact that there appeared to be a cover-up in the ongoing trial taking place in the High Court in Shah Alam.
When ASP Tonny suggested Bala meet him at Brickfields at 6pm that day at an ‘ikan bakar' restaurant to discuss the situation further, I agreed as I felt Bala was in safe hands. This is because ASP Suresh volunteered to drive him there. I did not realise at that stage that ASP Suresh would actually do a flip.
So, Bala left my office at about 5.30pm. I escorted him to ASP Suresh's car (a grey Proton Waja), parked outside my office and bid him farewell. That was the last I saw of Bala for more than one year. The rest is history, so to speak.
When Bala surfaced a year later, he declared to me all the payments he had received from Deepak (left). The total amount, including cash, came to approximately RM750,000. Bala has disclosed this publicly and has divulged evidence in support in the form of photocopied cheques, for RM50,000 each, drawn on Deepak's company account.
This money had been used by Bala to pay for the expenses of living in Chennai, India, for him and his family.
Bala emerged from hiding in 2009 and spilled the beans in the video recording he made in Singapore. By that time, all payments from Deepak had stopped. (Actually they had stopped much earlier as Deepak smelt something fishy and had anticipated Bala was going to ‘turn').
Therefore Bala had had to survive till the present on the RM750K given to him in 2008. Remember, he has been unemployed as he is not an Indian national and is therefore not eligible to work in India.
At the beginning of 2010, RPK (left) very kindly arranged a 'Datuk' friend of his to help Bala out financially. He paid for a second hand Toyota so that Bala could drive his children to their school in Chennai and also contributed towards school fees.
The further impression I got from this conversation was that ASP Tonny and his colleagues, who had been involved in the Altantuya investigations, were frustrated by the fact that there appeared to be a cover-up in the ongoing trial taking place in the High Court in Shah Alam.
When ASP Tonny suggested Bala meet him at Brickfields at 6pm that day at an ‘ikan bakar' restaurant to discuss the situation further, I agreed as I felt Bala was in safe hands. This is because ASP Suresh volunteered to drive him there. I did not realise at that stage that ASP Suresh would actually do a flip.
So, Bala left my office at about 5.30pm. I escorted him to ASP Suresh's car (a grey Proton Waja), parked outside my office and bid him farewell. That was the last I saw of Bala for more than one year. The rest is history, so to speak.
When Bala surfaced a year later, he declared to me all the payments he had received from Deepak (left). The total amount, including cash, came to approximately RM750,000. Bala has disclosed this publicly and has divulged evidence in support in the form of photocopied cheques, for RM50,000 each, drawn on Deepak's company account.This money had been used by Bala to pay for the expenses of living in Chennai, India, for him and his family.
Bala emerged from hiding in 2009 and spilled the beans in the video recording he made in Singapore. By that time, all payments from Deepak had stopped. (Actually they had stopped much earlier as Deepak smelt something fishy and had anticipated Bala was going to ‘turn').
Therefore Bala had had to survive till the present on the RM750K given to him in 2008. Remember, he has been unemployed as he is not an Indian national and is therefore not eligible to work in India.
At the beginning of 2010, RPK (left) very kindly arranged a 'Datuk' friend of his to help Bala out financially. He paid for a second hand Toyota so that Bala could drive his children to their school in Chennai and also contributed towards school fees.
This arrangement lasted only a few months. Bala has been left to his own devices and has been surviving on Deepak's initial contributions since then.
This is the correct version of events. Bala was not paid any money by any person to affirm the first SD.
I have been diligently following everything that has occurred over the past five years and have received phone calls and text messages from Bala practically every day, updating me on his situation.
I am unable to put it more succinctly than Bala did in hiscomments on the article written by RPK and posted by Free Malaysia Today on March 11, 2013, that what was produced in RPK's article was utter bullshit.
RPK is completely aware of all I have said above. I would have expected him to have, at the very least, expressed his reservations as to the veracity of the information he had received from his ‘deep throat'. This he chose not to do.
This is the correct version of events. Bala was not paid any money by any person to affirm the first SD.
I have been diligently following everything that has occurred over the past five years and have received phone calls and text messages from Bala practically every day, updating me on his situation.
I am unable to put it more succinctly than Bala did in hiscomments on the article written by RPK and posted by Free Malaysia Today on March 11, 2013, that what was produced in RPK's article was utter bullshit.
RPK is completely aware of all I have said above. I would have expected him to have, at the very least, expressed his reservations as to the veracity of the information he had received from his ‘deep throat'. This he chose not to do.
Still, the main issue is being avoided...
Deepak has since given audio-visually recorded interviews withMalaysiakini, in which he has confirmed that what Bala had alleged in his first SD as true.
While dust storms are being created to obfuscate matters by allegations of fiscal impropriety on the part of different personalities, the main issue is conveniently being avoided.
The question still remains. Who ordered Altantuya's murder? This is what all law abiding citizens of this country want to know.
Bala has provided all the clues at great personal sacrifice and yet he is being slandered and castigated by a bunch of armchair eunuchs who have nothing better to do than to pour scorn on his valiant efforts to pursue what is right.
Has all this been purposely designed to distract from the real issues at hand?
I leave that to you to decide.
Deepak has since given audio-visually recorded interviews withMalaysiakini, in which he has confirmed that what Bala had alleged in his first SD as true.
While dust storms are being created to obfuscate matters by allegations of fiscal impropriety on the part of different personalities, the main issue is conveniently being avoided.
The question still remains. Who ordered Altantuya's murder? This is what all law abiding citizens of this country want to know.Bala has provided all the clues at great personal sacrifice and yet he is being slandered and castigated by a bunch of armchair eunuchs who have nothing better to do than to pour scorn on his valiant efforts to pursue what is right.
Has all this been purposely designed to distract from the real issues at hand?
I leave that to you to decide.
AMERICK SIDHU, a practising lawyer, wrote this article specifically to refute the allegations made by RPK recently in his blog, under the heading 'The Deepak-Bala marriage: in Deepak's own words', in which RPK says that lawyer M Puravalen had been associated with a scheme in collaboration with Anwar Ibrahim to pay Bala RM700K to prepare the first SD. This article by RPK further alleges that Puravalen made off with the money, without paying Bala.
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