‘Probe the five involved in Deepak’s claims’
PKR piles pressure on the authorities to investigate Cecil Abraham, Arulampalam, Nazim, Deepak and Balasubramaniam.
Leven Woon, FMT
The police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have been urged to investigate the five individuals allegedly involved in the preparation of private investigator P Balasubramaniam’s second statutory declaration (SD).
PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the authorities should probe lawyer Cecil Abraham who was allegedly said to have prepared the second SD and Arulampalam, who has appeared with Balasubramaniam at the press conference to issue the second SD on July 4, 2008.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s brother Nazim Tun Razak, Balasubramaniam and businessman Deepak Jaikishan must also be called up for questioning, Chua added.
“Malaysian laws stipulate that conspiracy to falsify or subvert sworn statement is a criminal offence.
“Those involved in abetment and conspiracy can be charged under Section 107 of the Penal Code, or Section 120a for criminal conspiracy, and Section 191 for false evidence under Statutory Declaration Act 1960,” he said at a press conference here today.
Nazim allegedly met Balasubramaniam on behalf of the prime minister and provided the latter with the money to retract the explosive first SD linking Najib to the murder of Mongolian national Altantuyaa Shariibuu.
Chua said since both Balasubramaniam and Deepak had concurred that the second SD was prepared under intimidation and enticement, it is the duty of the enforcement authorities to verify the allegations with the other three individuals.
He pointed out that the authorities have shown they are capable of carrying out swift investigations when six federal agencies targeted NGO Suaram over allegations of receiving foreign funding lately.
“Unless the MACC and police act immediately, their [already] tainted reputation and image will be tarnished further,” he said.
Second defamation
The Batu MP also ticked off MACC over its clarification yesterday that Cecil, who is a member of the MACC’s operation review panel, was not involved in the decision to halt investigation of Balasubramaniam’s second SD.
Describing the statement as an “utter disappointment”, he said MACC is more concerned with defending its decision to stop the investigation than to discharge its duties properly.
Meanwhile, Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul said the allegation that Najib had asked his brother to offer money to Balasubramaniam could be considered as a second defamation on the premier after Deepak’s claims that Najib was involved in the murder of Altantuyaa.
“If what Deepak said is true, then there are elements of corruption and MACC should investigate. Don’t drag the matter anymore,” he said.
Chua also challenged the MACC to find out whether PKR was involved in paying Deepak to defame Najib.
When asked whether the enforcement authorities should also probe Najib, since the premier was directly implicated in the allegations, Chua said the focus now should be on the five individuals first.
“To be fair to [Najib and Rosmah], they are not materially present at the meeting. Let’s leave them alone first. But if Deepak’s allegations are proven to be true, then they must follow the lead and investigate further,” he said.
