MACC officials to meet PI Bala in mid-July

Three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers will leave for Britain in mid-July to interview private investigator P Balasubramaniam on the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

Reporting this today, Malay-language daily Berita Harian quoted MACC director of investigations Mustafar Ali as saying preparations were being made for the two parties to meet at a predetermined destination in London.

"We have already told him to prepare whatever documents," said Mustafar, adding that Balasubramaniam's cooperation was crucial for the commission to complete its investigation and send it to the Attorney-General's Chambers.

This announcement comes after weeks of silence on the MACC's part after Balasubramaniam (right), through his lawyers Manjeet Singh Dhillon and Americk Singh Sidhu, put the offer on the table for the anti-graft body to meet him in London - where he is said to have taken refuge.

The MACC had earlier agreed to meet Balasubramaniam in London, but has been keeping mum on the details since then.

The private-eye had made a startling revelation in a statutory declaration in July 2008 pertaining to the murder of Altantuya, only to retract it a day later.

The declaration had stated that the then deputy prime minister, Najib Abdul Razak, was the one who introduced Altantuya to political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

Razak was charged with abetment to murder, but was later freed by the court.

The private investigator had also alleged that Najib's younger brother Nazim was involved in Balasubramaniam's retraction of his statutory declaration, which is the subject of this MACC investigation.

As for thisallegation, Berita Harian reported, the MACC had obtained statements from Nazim and from a businessman, Deepak Jaikishan.

courtesy of Malaysiakini