Coming soon: New info on Scorpene deal
A lawyer will give fresh details on the scandal at a Suaram dinner next month.
G Vinod, FMT
Suaram will make a further expose next month of allegedly corrupt dealings in Malaysia’s 2002 purchase of two Scorpene submarines.
A spokesman for the human rights movement told a press conference today that a local lawyer would reveal new details of the scandal at a fund raising dinner scheduled for July 19 at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre.
The lawyer has been in touch with the French authorities investigating the case, according to Peter Chong, who heads Suaram’s Ops Scorpene unit.
“The French court asked our team for the contact numbers of two Malaysian lawyers who are in the know of what transpired,” he said. “One of them will be at the dinner.”
The case, which the French are investigating at Suaram’s request, threatens to tarnish Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who was Defence Minister at the time the submarines were purchased. The controversial murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibu has been tied to the case.
Suaram chief Cynthia Gabriel told today’s press conference that French investigators had traced the money trail to several companies located in Hong Kong and linked to “well-connected Malaysians”.
“The Hong Kong authorities are cooperating with the French team,” she added.
Responding to a reporter’s question, she said the probe was taking a long time because of the nature of the French judicial system.
