Bourdon: Jasbir’s statements do not count

Only statements made under oath before the judges count, says Suaram lawyer William Bourdon.

PETALING JAYA: Any statements made by Scorpene deal middleman Jasbir Singh Chahl do not count. This is the opinion of Suara Rakyat Malaysia’s (Suaram) France-based lawyer William Bourdon.

“Currently, hearing Jasbir as a witness [in the Scorpene submarine deal] is still ongoing. As a consequence, only statements made under oath before the judges count,” he said in a press statement.

According to Suaram director Cynthia Gabriel, Jasbir has given a 270-page long testimony in the French court.

Bourdon also gave assurance that findings of the investigations will be shared when the inquiry is completed, “which is not at the moment, as some more researches are still being made by the two French judges.”

“As a consequence, the investigations on Perimekar are also underway. No statement regarding the outcome of the proceedings and the evidence gathered by the judges can be made at the moment and information will be shared when results are known,” he said.

In a statement, Jasbir had said the Scorpene contract award was made on a transparent basis to the technically most qualified party on a commercially competitive price on a negotiated basis.

According to Jasbir the contract between the Malaysian government and Perimekar Sdn Bhd for a value equivalent of Euro 115 million for a defined scope of works and provision of such services was within commercial norms.

Bourdon meanwhile added that the question of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder was also meant to be processed by the French judges.

Bourdon said even if the French judges saw no link between Altantuya’s murder and the Scorpene deal, the French judges will still question the circumstances of her death.

“Accordingly, the testimony of Americk Singh Sidhu should help to reveal the different connections that should be made with corrupt activities, as well as other testimonies that would likely be received by the judges soon,” said Bourdon.

The next witness in line to the case is lawyer Americk Sidhu.

Suaram had alleged that the purchase of the two French-made submarines in 2002 is tainted with corruption and tying it to the slaying of Altantuya. Suaram initiated a legal action in the French court in a bid to seek justice.

However, the case took a twist when middleman in the deal Jasbir told the New Straits Times recently that there was no wrongdoing in the deal.

Jasbir had denied that Altantuya was part of the negotiating team. Altantunya was alleged to have been the French translator for the government.