After 5 years, PI Bala’s widow, Deepak settle ‘intentional harm’ suit

 

A Santamil Selvi claims she and her two children suffered financial and non-financial losses following their five-year exile to India from July 2008. (Youtube screengrab)

KUALA LUMPUR: Private investigator P Balasubramaniam’s widow, A Santamil Selvi, who filed an “intentional harm” suit five years ago, has settled the case with the sole defendant, businessman Deepak Jaikishan, her lawyer said.

Guok Ngek Seong said both parties resolved the matter on terms that remain confidential.

The lawyer conveyed the latest development to Judge Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh, who then struck out the suit which had been scheduled for a two-day hearing.

When contacted by FMT, Deepak confirmed that the suit had been settled amicably.

Deepak Jaikishan.

Santamil and her two children filed the suit against former prime minister Najib Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor, Najib’s brothers Nazim and Johari, lawyers Sunil Abraham, Cecil Abraham and Arulampalam Mariampillai, commissioner for oaths Zainal Abidin Muhayat and Deepak.

She alleged the nine people named in the suit had deprived her family of a normal life, and caused them to suffer financial and non-financial losses following their five-year exile to India from July 2008.

Balasubramaniam, better known as PI Bala, was a key witness in the trial of two policemen who were later convicted of killing Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian national. He died of a heart attack on March 15, 2013, weeks after returning from India.

In January 2018, the High Court here dismissed a joint bid by all the defendants to strike out Santamil’s suit.

However, with the exception of Deepak, the defendants were successful in having the Court of Appeal overturn the High Court ruling in July 2018.

In 2020, Santamil also failed in her final bid to reinstate her suit against the other eight.- FMT