Probe Razak Baginda over Scorpene deal now, suggests ex-judge

The government must probe the Scorpene submarine deal and former premier Najib Abdul Razak's close associate, Abdul Razak Baginda, according to former Federal Court Judge Gopal Sri Ram.

Sri Ram alleged there are other monies misappropriated from the government which have yet to be recovered apart from those linked to the 1MDB scandal.

"I have in mind the huge bribes that were obtained in the Scorpene deal. Those monies were acquired through a criminal act and as such, should be recovered.

"Just as the elusive Jho Low is intrinsically connected to 1MDB, Abdul Razak has an equal connection with the Scorpene deal.

"It is my respectful view that he should be sought and interrogated as to the whereabouts of those funds," the former top judge told Malaysiakini and FMT.

Razak had apparently advised Najib when he was defence minister between 2000 and 2008.

The submarines, including two Scorpene-cass and one Agosta class, were purchased for nearly one billion euros (US$1.18 billion) from DCN which is linked to Thales.

Last August, it was reported that French human rights lawyer William Bourdon confirmed Abdul Razak had been indicted in Paris over alleged kickbacks in the sale of submarines to Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Sri Ram said it is necessary to relook into the purported kickbacks in the case owing to the other allegations related to it.

"This includes the handing over of suitcases of cash, coupled with a spending spree in Paris as well as the dastardly murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

"One may well ask why former attorney- general Abdul Gani Patail did not secure the arrest and detention of two police officers pending the public prosecutor's appeal to the Federal Court,” he added.

Former police special operations personnel chief inspector Azilah Hadri and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar were found guilty of murdering Altantuya in January 2015 and sentenced to death.

However, Sirul had fled to Australia when the pair was acquitted prior to the Federal Court overturning the decision.

Sirul is being held an immigration centre and Australian law prevents those facing the death penalty in their home countries to be sent back. - Mkini