PI Bala: Part 5
November 20, 2009
PI Bala Part 5: ” I was told Rosmah was happy with my retraction”
In the fifth and final part of the mystery interview with private eye P Balasubramaniam published in Malaysia Today, he tells that prime minister’s wife Rosmah Mansor was “very happy” with him for retracting his first statutory declaration which implicated her and Najib Razak in Altantuya’s murder.
He added that Rosmah had wanted to have breakfast with him.
Balasubramaniam, a central figure in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case, also revealed that he had met Najib’s younger brother Nazim the night before signing the second declaration which exonerated Najib and Rosmah.
He added that he was only paid RM750,000 of the promised RM5 million for the retraction.
Below are excerpts from the interview.
How long had you known ASP Suresh before this incident?
I have known him for about 10 years. I met him when he was a senior investigation officer at the IPK Kuala Lumpur. I was a private investigator then.
ASP Suresh used to ask me to assist him in obtaining fast traces and details on mobile phones as I had contacts in the phone companies and was able to get the information required faster than the police who had to go through official channels.
At one stage, I was working for ASP Suresh as a bouncer at his pub in Jalan Imbi. He had been suspended from his duties as a police officer sometime in 2006 as he was being investigated for corruption by the ACA.
Had you met Deepak before this incident?
No. But I had done some PI work for his brother Dinesh in the past. I knew Deepak was Dinesh’s brother.
You have said that you met a Malay VIP Datuk outside the Volkswagen showroom at The Curve on the night of July 3rd 2008. Who was this gentleman?
He was Datuk Nazim Razak, the younger brother of Najib. He was there with his pregnant wife. Although I did not speak to her, I recognised her as being a TV personality. I think she was the host on the ‘Nona’ programme. Deepak was the one who brought them there to meet me. That is why ASP Suresh did not want us to meet in a place where there would have been a CCTV camera.
When you were in the Hilton Hotel at KL Sentral with Deepak, Dinesh and ASP Suresh and after you had signed the second statutory declaration, was there anything said to you which you consider to be significant?
Yes, there were two things which Deepak told me. He informed me that Rosmah was very happy with me for retracting my first statutory declaration and wanted to have breakfast with me.
When I enquired from Deepak how long I was expected to leave the country for, he informed me it would be until Najib became the next prime minister and that I could return after that.
When did you contact your lawyer Americk Sidhu?
I called him in the middle of July 2009. I was still in India then. I wanted to arrange a meeting with him to inform him what had happened to me and to apologise for all the trouble I had caused. Americk was in the UK when I called him so we arranged to meet in Kuala Lumpur when he returned at the beginning of August.
Did you meet him?
Yes. We met in early August. At the meeting were two other senior lawyers whom Americk had arranged to be present. I told them everything that had happened to me from the time I left Americk’s office in the evening of the July 3, 2008.
Did you realise that this meeting had been secretly videoed?
I did not realise I was being filmed. I was, however, subsequently informed that a recording had been made and this video is safekeeping. I understand this was done to protect me in the event something untoward happened to me again.
How did you manage to survive financially all the time you were away?
Deepak arranged intermittent payments to be made to me. Some payments were made to my wife directly into her account with the EON Bank in KL.
Other payments were made to ASP Suresh who then arranged payment to me directly or through a friend of mine in Malaysia. I have copies of some of the cheques issued by Deepak Jaikishan and from his company, Carpet Raya Sdn Bhd.
I also have copies of my wife’s bank statements showing the deposits which were made. I also have copies of my HSBC account in Chennai.
How much money did you receive from Deepak from the time you left Malaysia in July 2008 till now?
All together, approximately RM750,000.
Do you have any money left?
Yes, I have invested approximately RM250,000 for my future as I am not sure what will happen to me. I also spent some money on renovations to my house in Rawang as my wife and youngest child were there. These renovations were in respect of the security of my home only.
The rest of the money was spent on renting accommodation in Chennai, paying for my children’s schooling and for daily expenses.
Didn’t Deepak promise you RM5 million?
The negotiations were all conducted by ASP Suresh at the Bak Kut Teh stall in Rawang on the night of the July 3, 2008. I was not involved in these negotiations as I was not concerned about money but the safety of my family.
I have subsequently come to realise that ASP Suresh had a vested interest in all this as I know he has received about the same amount of money from Deepak as I have. His job was to keep me under control. This is why he is annoyed with me for not following his instructions because his income from Deepak would be affected.
Why did you wait so long before revealing all this?
When I was at the Hilton Hotel at KL Sentral, I had asked Deepak how long I would have to stay out of the country. He told me it would have to be until Najib became the prime minister. I could not return to Malaysia before February 2009 as one Kumar had my passport in his possession in India for five months.
I only got my passport back after I complained to Deepak when he visited me in India with ASP Suresh. Deepak called his brother Rajesh to find out what had happened to my passport and within two days Kumar asked me to pick it up from him. I was at this time in India illegally as my visa had expired on September 5, 2008.
In order to get my visa extended I had to seek assistance from my wife’s uncle who is a state exco member in Tamil Nadu who managed to get it extended for one year. Only after this was I able to travel back to Malaysia.
What happened when you arrived back in Malaysia in February 2009?
When I landed in KL, I called Dinesh to inform him I was back in Malaysia. I was summoned to Deepak’s office in Sungai Besi at 11.45 pm the same night and was told in no uncertain terms to leave the country immediately, but I stayed a little longer as I wanted to be with my children and my wife. They didn’t know I had not left immediately.
Why did you come back to Malaysia in April 2009?
Just to see my wife and children. This time I did not tell anyone I was back and so I was not harassed.
Why have you now decided to reveal everything?
Because I want to stop all harassments and so that I can return to my normal life.
Were the contents of your first statutory declaration true?
Yes.
Were you forced to sign the first statutory declaration under duress?
Absolutely not.
Were you forced to sign the second statutory declaration under duress?
Yes, because I was fearful for the safety of my family and I did not read the contents of the second statutory declaration before I was asked to sign it.
Parts 1-5 are about cloak and dagger intrigue in Malaysia. It is all for the lust of power and money. Somebody’s daughter and mother lost her life in the process and if PI Bala is careless, he is also at risk. Musa Hassan’s men can make him disappear without a trace. They know where to”get” him since he is talking too much.
The world looks at us as if there is no rule of law. Yes, it is rule by men with coercive power which is being used to intimidate citizens. –Din Merican
dinobeano - November 20, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Dear Din Merican,
Your statement comes under the non-contradiction rule of the mighty Thumb. “No statement can be right and wrong at the same time”
Thumb Logic - November 20, 2009 at 6:19 pm
PI Bala : I was told Rosmah was happy with my retraction.
Moooost unusual. Najib should be happy. In fact Najib should be asking him what he was doin’ there.
Mr Bean - November 20, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Retraction otherwise known as coitus interruptus.
Mr Bean - November 20, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Malays’ being over run by Indians.
1st it was Lingam of korek korek fame ,now it’s Bala’s que , not to mention ASP Suresh ,Deepak and Dinish.
Once upon a time it was Tun Ali, an Indian muslim of the Malacca sultanate fabble.
Danildaud - November 20, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Danil, you left out Samy Velu, Ananda Krishnan, Subramaniam, Kugan and not forgetting, Maha Firaun.
Tok Cik - November 20, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Bollywood drama?
Don’t forget Anwar Ibrahim himself had referred to this Bollywood drama showing relish at the thought that the story he was telling would have to be delivered as it develops – as the script was being written as the story develops and no one knows the ending!
Mr Bean - November 20, 2009 at 7:45 pm
The whole world saw how Thievy Henri handed France the ticket to South Africa. It is a bloody scandal !!!
The Irish (FAI) can protest as much as they want but the French still get away with highway robbery !
It seems that we are living in a world where rules and laws are bent so long as the ends justify the means. How sad !!!
ocho-onda - November 20, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Umno is over run by Indian….muslims
Frank - November 20, 2009 at 8:05 pm
I don’t understand why the fuss about a couple of out-of-court statements albeit made under oath. It is what this former investigator has to say under oath in court that is the evidence.
They would have to make him disappear (long enough to be legally presumed dead) so as to be able to admit the statement (either or both) in court assuming it is relevant to an issue. If Bala were to re-surface as he does now, the statements could be used in court to impeach his credibility. In any case his statement is collateral to an issue involving conspiracy to murder. It does not prove conspiracy to murder.
This Bala has already destroyed whatever integrity he may have had at the beginning. I would pay for his breakfast of roti canai and kepala ikan for the rest of his life to keep him quiet. Nothing more. Perhaps an occasional visit to rumah urut along Jalan Bukit Bintang with the help of Tean. But nothing more.
Mr Bean - November 20, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Yeap! Tok Cik ,how could i’ve left their names out?
But I am sure you and the rest will agree , Dr.Jega and spiderman Arumugam , to name a few were from a different league.
Danildaud - November 20, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Din Merican,
To refresh our memories you may want to re-produce his first written statement.
Mr Bean - November 20, 2009 at 8:12 pm
If my memory serves me right, what he has had to say is collateral to an issue which may be relevant and even if so is peripheral to the truth of whatever he is asserting.
Mr Bean - November 20, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Yeap! Tok Cik ,how could i’ve left their names out?
But I am sure you and the rest will agree , Dr.Jega and spiderman Arumugam , to name a few , were from a different league. One ran for the country and brought us glory. The other was running all over the Merdeka Stadium football pitch defending the nations honour.
Danildaud - November 20, 2009 at 8:18 pm
If RPK were to be believed, there are eye witnesses to the murder apart from the duo since found guilty. The duo could still rat on their bosses to save their necks.
Mr Bean - November 20, 2009 at 8:20 pm
It’s a gone case. No amount of revelations by Bala will make a difference. We can argue until the cows come home what impact will it have on Rosmah and Pinky Lips? He’s still the PM and she the First Lady. They both aspire for these lofty positions since Day One and they’ll ensure that no Bala or RPK will come in their way. It’s in the stars say the soothsayers.
Tok Cik - November 20, 2009 at 8:41 pm
“We can argue till the cows come home …”
You may want to tread carefully here. Pakatan supporters need to be politically correct. We have had enough firestorms dealing with cows recently.
PI Bala is one cow that has come home.
Mr Bean - November 20, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Cows do what cows do best
Mr Bean - November 20, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Bar Council ordered to pay RM70,000 to Lingam
The Bar Council must pay RM70,000 in costs to lawyer VK Lingam in connection with the decision to set up a tribunal to investigate a complaint against him over an alleged vacation to New Zealand with former chief justice Mohd Eusoff Chin in 1994.
Danildaud - November 21, 2009 at 12:13 am
Are you serious?!
Mr Bean - November 21, 2009 at 4:44 am
The Bar Council must pay RM70,000 in costs to lawyer Datuk V. K. Lingam in connection with the decision to set up a tribunal to investigate a complaint against him, over an alleged vacation to New Zealand with former chief justice Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin in 1994.
On Oct 14, the Federal Court Deputy Registrar ordered the Bar to pay the amount to Lingam.
Federal Court Judge Datuk James Foong, who heard Lingam’s application to review the quantum, in his decision said the court had no justification to disturb the Deputy Registrar’s assessment, and thus, reaffirmed the decision.
The quantum was awarded to Lingam, following the Federal Court’s refusal of the Bar Council’s appeal over the Advocates & Solicitors’ Disciplinary Board’s decision to set up a tribunal after
Lingam failed to reply to the Bar’s complaint over the New Zealand holiday trip.
In 2003, the High Court allowed Lingam’s appeal over the decision to set up the tribunal to investigate the complaint.
The High Court Deputy Registrar then ordered the Bar to pay RM100,000 in costs to Lingam, and upon appeal, it was reduced to RM70,000.
Counsel Datuk V. Sivaparanjothi, who represented Lingam, submitted that the court should increase the amount to at least RM150,000, as the complaint had affected Lingam’s profession.
He also said he had spent a lot of time to do research due to the complexity of the matter.
Danildaud - November 21, 2009 at 2:38 pm
As far as I am concerned the Part 2 to Part 5 of this report ( dont seem to have Part 1!!) is a complete waste of time. It only servers as reading for those interested in the PI Bala case, nothing more.
My reasoning is that nothing will come out of this expose.
Anwar tried his luck at it saying the final episode will reveal all in the “korek3″ case, all that came to naught.
Its frustrating that we are in this 1Malaysia where the Law is relegated to law, generally meaningless. My feeling is that even at the 13th GE we will not put PKR into power and even if we did, these clowns would mess it up as they are doing now , with infighting.
Sorry for being a wet blanket but don’t you all agree?
Brian - November 21, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I’m not confident PKR-Pakatan could pull it off come next GE. The Malays will not let it happen. They have too much to lose. That does not mean they agree with the UMNO leadership in the way they run the administration. They too are looking for change but not at any cost.
______
For every Bean in New York, there are in Malaysia 10 who believe that Pakatan Rakyat can be the next government. But we must get our act together in the remaining years of the present election cycle. The Malays too are fed up with mismanagement of our resources and abuses of UMNO-BN. They too are paying the high price of corruption.–Din Merican
Mr Bean - November 22, 2009 at 8:34 am
It is a bitter pill to swallow but Malaysia is not ready for a full blown race neutral democracy.
Mr Bean - November 22, 2009 at 8:39 am
“It is a bitter pill to swallow but Malaysia is not ready for a full blown race neutral democracy.”
Mr Bean, this leaves little left to be done but revert to the BN leadership, alternatively for us , to all migrate. Sad after 52+ years we are still debating this issue.
I agree wit you that PKR-Pakatan cannot do any better. Let’s live with the present set of geezers and their 1Malaysia.
Brian - November 22, 2009 at 1:00 pm
After a regime change, the new govt can always recognise
dual citizenship. And allow ex-Malaysians to apply for permanent residency and regain their citizenship.
Just think, if there are 1 million Malaysians and ex-Malaysians living overseas and even if only 100,000 return with all their human capital, financial capital etc ………..
Phua Kai Lit - November 23, 2009 at 8:20 am
Just think, if there are 1 million Malaysians and ex-Malaysians living overseas and even if only 100,000 return with all their human capital, financial capital etc ………Phua.
What’s the proportion of Malays in that 100,000?, that is the question the BN will be asking, hopefully the PKR will not.
Brian - November 23, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Read like a thriller / suspense fiction novel. A bad one for sure. Did anyone fell off their seat?
Mickey - November 24, 2009 at 9:38 pm