ALTANTUYA ROARS BACK: IN THE END, EX-LOVER RAZAK BAGINDA WILL HAVE TO CHOOSE - HIS NECK OR BOSS NAJIB'S?

Razak Baginda, the Malaysian PM's former special adviser is the common denominator in two controversial issues.

He is linked with the gruesome murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, and he is the front man, who brokered an allegedly crooked deal to purchase two Scorpene Submarines from France.

Baginda cannot be too happy with the recent turn of events, in France. In 2012, Malaysian NGO Suaram took the French state-owned company DCNS to court for allegedly paying illegal commissions totalling €114.9 million to Perimekar Sdn Bhd.

We were warned that it would be years before new developments are seen. DCNS manufactures naval defence systems. Baginda is the part-owner of Perimekar.

Last week, the French courts finally indicted Bernard Baiocco, the 72-year old former president of Thales International Asia (Thint Asia), and another director of  DCN International, for bribing Baginda. Both companies are connected in the manufacture of Scorpene. The case will be tried soon.

These are the indisputable facts.

In 2006, Altantuya arrived in Malaysia, and harassed Baginda, demanding payment for her role in the Scorpene deal transaction. There were ugly scenes outside his house and his boss, Najib Abdul Razak, the then defence minister, and deputy PM, told him that the matter would soon be resolved.

Deputy Superintendent Musa Safri, the then aide-de-camp to Najib, sent two policemen to deal with Altantuya. They were from the special action unit (UTK) – Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar.

Later, the remains of Altantuya's body, having been blown-up, were found in an oil palm estate in Shah Alam.

There may, however, be uncertainty about some of the events which occurred between her arrival at Baginda's house and the discovery of her body.

In 2008, Baginda was acquitted of Altantuya's murder, and fled to England.

In 2009, Azilah and Sirul were convicted of murder, and sentenced to death.

In 2013, they were acquitted "for lack of evidence".

Sirul escaped to Australia and three videos of him emerged recently, exonerating Najib and mocking claims that "that woman" (presumably, he meant Altantuya),  was pregnant, when she died. Why would he suddenly mention Najib to defend him?

Recently, without any prompting, Baginda appears to be defending Najib, and saying that Najib had nothing to do with Altantuya.

Last week, it was Sirul's turn to defend Najib, from out of the blue. What is going on?

There are some things that are still worth repeating.

Altantuya was murdered with C4, a plastic explosive which is traceable and is a standard issue military product. So, who would have had the power to authorise use of C4?

Altantuya's murder trial could only be described as farcical. Whenever important questions, such as who had the motive and who paid for the killing, were asked, the judge dismissed the questions and said they were irrelevant.

Deputy Superintendent Musa's evidence was never called. Why?

Baginda was alleged to have been Altantuya's former lover, and he accused her of blackmailing him. This is no justification for blowing up her body.

Baginda also received hundreds of millions of Euros, in kickbacks, from the Scorpene deal.

Strangely, "by their own volition", both Baginda and Sirul exonerated Najib of any wrongdoing. Why?

With Najib being cleared by Sirul and Baginda, the only person to have a common link with both Altantuya, and Scorpene, is Baginda.

He knows more, and is definitely shielding something, or someone. Is it from fear? Or is it a self-defence mechanism? - http://theantdaily.com/