Deepak, Rosmah 'sponsored' my London trip, quips Bala

Private investigator P Balasubramaniam said the money used to pay for his trip to London for the aborted meeting with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) came from carpet businessman Deepak Jaikishan and the premier's wife, Rosmah Mansor.

Balasubramaniam's lawyer, Americk Singh Sidhu, said he had been instructed by his client to respond to independent Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim's press conference in Parliament yesterday.

Zahrain had yesterday demanded MACC to investigate the individual involved in sponsoring Balasubramaniam's flight and stay in London.

In a cheeky response, Americk said that Balasubramaniam fully supports Zahrain's suggestion.

“This is for the simple reason the money he is using to pay for his trip to London and his hotel accommodation there is derived from the funds he has received from Deepak at the behest of Rosmah, who ultimately and unwittingly is the sponsor,” said the lawyer in a statement.

As such, MACC should investigate the duo.

Bala went missing after retracting his first statutory declaration (SD) in July 2008.

Then he alleged the involvement of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's younger brother, Nazim, and Deepak in enticing him to retract the SD.

MACC's sudden reversal

Balasubramaniam's first SD states that it was Najib who had introduced Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu to his confidante and political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

Balasubramaniam, who was due to leave for London today from an undisclosed location, was to be interviewed by MACC on Monday to facilitate its investigations on Nazim and Deepak's role.

However, MACC deputy commissioner Mohd Sukri Abdull, in a dramatic about-turn, announced yesterday it would abort the tripbut would instead send a set of questions to Balasubramaniam's lawyer for the answers to be replied in an affidavit.

Americk has since lambasted the MACC for its contradictory stand and for not being serious in conducting the interview.

courtesy of Malaysiakini