WIFE OF PI BALA GRATEFUL FOR DONATIONS RECEIVED

(The Star) – The wife of late private investigator P. Balasubramaniam has received more than RM21,000 in donations for her children’s education.

A. Santamil Selvi (pic above) told members of the media outside her home Tuesday that the RM21,050 donation would go towards financing the education and upbringing of her three children, aged 14, 18 and 19.

She disclosed that her second child had received a full scholarship from her college after hearing of Santamil’s financial difficulties.

“I thank Pertubuhan Minda dan Social Prihatin Malaysia (Minda), especially Mr Ramesh as president and Mr Zakwan Hafiz as deputy president of the NGO, as they have fulfilled their promises to provide aid and financial assistance for my children’s education,” said Santamil, reading from a printed statement.

“I was informed that this financial assistance is the contribution of several public individuals who are concerned about the difficulties my children and I face. Once again, I thank you,” she said.

Santamil claimed she had been receiving assistance from PKR since the death of her husband in 2013 until March this year, but was not sure if the funds would continue.

On another note, Santamil announced that she wants to withdraw her claims against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and seven others after her former counsel Americk Singh Sidhu (pic above) withdrew from the case.

“I made the decision that this is the will of my own, without any coercion or instigation of any party,” she said.

She claimed that Americk had suggested that she filed for a claim for damages and that she just followed his advice.

She alleged that Americk had offered to be her counsel out of sympathy and friendship with her late husband.

“I now just want to continue my life with my children without relying on any party,” said Santamil.

In 2013, Santamil and her three children filed a suit against the Prime Minister for their exile from 2008 until 2013.

Santamil’s husband was the PI during the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantunya Shaariibuu.

He passed away in 2013 soon after returning from exile in India, and had made two statutory declarations (SD) over Najib’s alleged involvement in Altantuya’s murder. The second SD was made to retract the first.