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MACC cancels PI Bala’s London interview

UPDATED @ 05:19:09 PM 30-06-2010
By Neville Spykerman
June 30, 2010

PUTRAJAYA, June 30 - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today called off plans to interview P.Balasubramaniam in London next week over his claims of a conspiracy in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Instead they are opting to pose questions to the private investigator and allow him to respond via an affidavit.

MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull said they were advised by the Attorney-General’s Chambers against interviewing the private investigator in London.

“We have been advised against it because there are legal implications” he said.

MACC officers were scheduled to interview him in London between July 5 and July 7.

Shukri said all of the other witnesses in the case had been interviewed except for him.

He pointed out that Balasubramaniam was their main witness.

“He is not our enemy. Without him we cannot complete our investigations,” said Shukri.

He said they will inform his lawyers officially tomorrow.

Shukri also pointed out that Balasubramanium had previously indicated his willingness to testify in court.

He said it would be better for him to return to Malaysia to help investigations.

MACC Legal Director Datuk Abdul Razak Musa said the validity of Balasubramaniam’s statement would not be recognised by local courts if it was recorded overseas.

He said the precedent was set in the case of Tan Sri Eric Chia, where a statement recorded overseas was not accepted.

Abdul Razak said this was similar to the stand MACC was adopting in the inquest of Teoh Beng Hock.

They maintain pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand should not  be allowed to testifying from Thailand but should return to Malaysia.

Balasubramaniam had linked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to Altantuya in a statutory declaration made on October 27 2008.

But he retracted his claims via another sworn declaration the next day before leaving the country.

Najib has denied knowing Altantuya, who was murdered four years ago.

In October last year, Balasubramaniam emerged from hiding to claim that his first declaration was true and that he was offered RM5million to retract his statement.