French prosecutors to interview PI Bala over submarine deal
(Free Malaysia Today) KUALA LUMPUR: French prosecutors will be interviewing private investigator P Balasubramaniam in Paris next week as part of their ongoing investigation into claims of corruption over a US$1.1 billion submarine deal linked to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Balasubramaniam’s lawyer Americk Singh Sidhu told FMT that he was informed by French lawyers of this latest development yesterday.
“Balasubramaniam will be travelling to Paris later next week to talk to the French prosecutors,” he said.
He added that it was an irony that the French prosecutors were ready to talk to Balasubramaniam but not the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers.
He was referrring to the MACC’s decision yesterday not to send its officers to London to record statements from Balasubramaniam in the murder trial of Mongolian Altantuya Shariibuu.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Mohd Shukri Abdull had said Balasubramaniam would instead be asked to answer questions which would be submitted through his lawyer in the form of a sworn statement or affidavit, as advised by the Attorney-General.
Americk said he was disappointed with the MACC’s decision not to fly out to London to meet Balasubramaniam as was previously agreed upon.
“I just find it interesting that the French don’t seem to have a problem in taking Balasubramaniam’s statement unlike our MACC and its legal advisers,” he said.
“We will, however, continue with our plan in London. We have arranged for a press conference on July 7 and that will proceed,” he added.
Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/news/general/7464-french-prosecutors-to-interview-pi-bala-over-submarine-deal
