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| Closing the Books on Murder in Malaysia |
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| Written by Our Correspondent | |
| Friday, 05 November 2010 | |
 The episode of a sensational killing of a Mongolian translator appears to be about finished
The closing of a case earlier this week by Malaysia's attorney general over allegedly false statements by a private investigator that tied Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to the 2006 murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu literally lets unknown persons close to the prime minister get away with murder. The closure of the case appears to write the final chapter in one of Malaysia's most sensational murder cases, one involving a gruesome death, intrigue in high places, more than 100 million euros in alleged bribes and a trial that appeared to be rigged to keep prosecutors as far as possible away from Najib, then the deputy prime minister, and his wife, Rosmah Mansor. The private investigator, P Balasubramaniam, was hired in 2006 by Abdul Razak Baginda, one of Najib's best friends and a defense analyst from the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre think-tank, to attempt to keep Altantuya away from Baginda because he had jilted her. She was demanding revenge and US$500,000 for her role as a translator in the sale of French submarines to Malaysia. A French prosecutorial team continues to probe the sale of the subs to Malaysia and whether kickbacks were paid to top French and Malaysian politicians. In July of 2008, as the trial droned on, Balasubramaniam issued a statutory declaration alleging that Najib, then the deputy prime minister, was involved in the murder, only to retract the entire contents of the declaration a day later and issue a second saying he had made the first under duress (Note: Both declarations can be found here). Balasubramaniam's lawyer, Americk Sidhu, denounced the closing of the case, saying that if the supposedly false statements were investigated thoroughly by police, they would have led to the conclusion that people close to Najib were involved in the murder. De facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz, in a written statement to parliament, said the case was closed because Balasubramaniam had given conflicting statutory declarations, and that anyway, they didn't affect the trial of two of Najib's personal bodyguards and Abdul Razak Baginda, which ended in April of 2009 after a 159-day trial in which the bodyguards were sentenced to death. They are appealing the verdict, with suspicions running high that they will somehow be given their freedom in exchange for their silence on whoever ordered them to kill the woman. "Although there are contradictions between the two statutory declarations, the contradictions do not affect the outcome of the trial of Altantuya," Nazri said. "Moreover, the individual (Balasubramaniam) is still believed to be abroad." Nazri added that the decision to close the case was made after "careful consideration" of the results of the police probe and witness statements. Although the two bodyguards were convicted of the crime, Baginda was acquitted under controversial circumstances without having to put on a defense. He then hurriedly left the country for England, where he has remained ever since. One of the two bodyguards said in a cautioned statement that they had been hired to commit the killing and were to be paid RM100,000 to do it. But the statement was never introduced into the marathon trial and never was anybody asked who had done the hiring or made the payment offer. The 27-year-old Altantuya, the translator in some phases of the billion-dollar purchase of French Scorpene submarines that netted Baginda's company €114 million in consulting fees, was shot in the head and her body was blown up with explosives in a patch of jungle near the suburban city of Shah Alam. Before she died, she told Balasubramaniam she had been promised US$500,000 for assisting in the submarine transaction. In the bodyguard's cautioned statement, it emerged that Altantuya, almost with her last words, told her two assailants that she was pregnant and begged them not to kill her. That has led to speculation that her body was blown up with C4 explosives to hide any DNA evidence of who the father might be. Balasubramaniam, who remains somewhere in Chennai, has continued to insist loudly that Razak Baginda, who is married, had told him that the translator had been Najib's sexual companion before the then-deputy prime minister passed her on to Baginda because it wouldn't look good for a prospective prime minister to have a girlfriend. After making the first declaration, Balasubramaniam was hauled into a Kuala Lumpur police station, where he was forced to recant it in a second under threat to his family, he later testified. After that, according to statements he made under oath, he was taken to meet with Mohamad Nizam Razak, Najib's brother, and Deepak Jaikishan, described as a "business associate" of Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor, where he was promised RM5 million to leave the country and shut up. He later displayed cancelled checks showing he had been paid RM750,000 out of an account maintained by Jaikishan. According to his sworn statement, Balasubramaniam said Rosmah was "very pleased" that he had agreed to retract the statutory declaration and wanted to have breakfast with him. Nazri told the parliament that Balasubramaniam was initially investigated for providing false statements, which would make him liable to three years in jail and a fine. That makes it a mystery why the case was dropped against him, since one of the statutory declarations was demonstrably false – either the one implicating Najib and describing the murder, or the one recanting it. A team from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission first made an appointment to interview Balasubramaniam in the UK, where he was staying out of fear for his safety, but cancelled the appointment without an explanation. "The evidence is staring you in the face," Sidhu said in a telephone interview from Australia. "A whole pile of witnesses can confirm the first statement and who have been investigated by the police have said the original statement was made of his own free will. If they had investigated, they would have had to interview Rosmah, Nizam and Jaikashan over the checks to Bala.They can't afford to charge him. If they do that, they would hang themselves. They had no alternative but to close the file to save Najib and his entourage." To say Balasubramaniam's first statement was explosive is an understatement. In addition to saying Najib had been Altantuya's lover before he turned her over to Razak Baginda, Balasubramaniam wrote that Najib had a sexual relationship with the Mongolian woman and that she liked anal sex. Before she was killed, according to the statement, she told Balasubramaniam that she, Baginda and Najib had been together at a dinner in Paris during the transaction over the submarines. Najib has repeatedly denied he had ever met the woman, swearing to Allah that no meeting had taken place. During the trial of the two elite bodyguards, a friend of Altantuya who had accompanied the woman to Malaysia said there was no record in immigration that she had ever been in the country.
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  written by Ajaib Singh, November 05, 2010
I am ashamed as a Muslim that the opportunity to truth to unravel its self under the rule of law has not only been prevented by the Attorney General of Malaysia but also the defacto Law Minister. Looks like every allegation against Malaysia‘s Institution to protect Democracy, the Rule of Law and Transparency is gone! Rather than swearing on the Koran, I would have thought that at least Najib Razak would have been called as a witness, subjected to cross –examination with a view to vindicate himself. At least Lee Kuan Yew attended trials, [for what it was worth]. How many people who are innocent have been hung in Malaysia, which does not have a jury and all Judges appointed by the PM? Different standards!In Malaysia selected Gods are above the law-Mahathir Mohamed and now Najib Razak-the Rule of Law does not apply to them. The Law is an ASS in Malaysia-the Judges and the Institution of Democracy is an ass! Primitive Malaysia!
written by old kanchil, November 05, 2010
Both the BN and the PAP are in the same boat. They have overstayed their welcome and have to resort to extrajudicial actions to stay in power. They will do anything to stay in power and to further abuse their positions to enrich themselves. The people are the losers and the governing parties keep enriching themselves and their cronies. Don't hold out too much hope to see these parties giving up their power.
written by David Goh, November 05, 2010
Muslims are hipocrites in Malaysia [UMNO] -they can rape young girls and get away with it [Malacca CM story]; Can murder as a Minister and get away from the noose-Moktar Hashim [Minister of Sports] pardoned for shooting after sentenced to death and now Najib Razak-"suddenly ill", with no requirement to answer these allegations of MURDER and CORRUPTION-Malu lah!
Its like most Malays when caught for rape,incest or anything else-adultery-wearing the religious costume to escape sentencing. You all make honest Muslims bad people.If the PM is above the law-so be it! Its a country run by thieves. I am so sorry for the family of the Mongolian girl-what a fatal error!
written by nowinnofee, November 05, 2010
I am not at all surprised. this is Malaysia.......Malaysia Boleh( can) ...semua boleh ( anything goes) stopped reading the STAR. The world is your oyster if you are a politician in Malaysia....oooppsss....a Barisan National politician.
written by achibong, November 05, 2010
Whoever cooked that immigration record is either sitting on a gold mine, or is now with Altantuya.
written by motherchell, November 05, 2010
The evidences, cautioned statements are so glaring, yet the guilty can get away with it clean---and Malaysia wants to be respected by all??? It would have taken a school student in a simple comprehension test to say who is guilty. Why the masking of the UTK accused?? who knows --- they must be having dinner and roaming free with the Ruling elite right this very sec to celebrate the success of the Patail's sell out. I wonder if Patail does have daughters!!!
written by R.Ramli, November 05, 2010
Years ago. the Sultan of Johore killed a brother of a soldier with a golf club.
The soldier got so mad as there was no justice so he took his machine gun and shot many people. But he go hanged for the shootings. There is sickening justice in Malaysia.
written by Mat, November 06, 2010
Najib did not swear on the Quran that he never met or did not know Altantuya. He swore he never met or did not know 'that Mongolian woman'. That's how he justifies himself.
What a sham!
written by joe call, November 06, 2010
Is it true that no one in the world can help this poor lady ?
What if she is one of your love ones that you protect ? What has the world gone to ? It is such a shame.
written by What'sGoingToBe, November 06, 2010
About 50% of Malaysian supported these people continuing running this country.They have agreed to what these people practices . Malaysian really support them, if not then how could they still in power and won those bi-election? Do you think Malaysia still have hope? How could over 50% of Malaysian still supporting them? Ask ourself ,are we with them or against them? What will "The Almighty" will do to Malaysian if more then 50% are hiding or protecting these thieves?
written by daniel kannan, November 06, 2010
wonder if altantunya's father, Mr Setev has been paid off very very well to keep quiet, havent heard of him pursuing this matter at higher levels ?
written by ex-Malaysian_to_be, November 06, 2010
Malaysia is wonderful if you are connected to the ruling elite. For the ruling elite to be in power they must have the majority Muslim Malay made subservient. Despite all the privileges and advantages for the Muslim Malay they are poorly educated, yes even those with a university degree especially from Malaysia!
For most non-Malay, the pasture overseas is always greener. Malaysia is prosperous so long as Petronas is pumping oil and gas.
written by CWL, November 06, 2010
This is the state of the ruling Malaysian leaders (UMNO - UNITED MALAYS NATIONAL ORGANISATION (actually it is basically a group or an association of robbers, pirates and parasites!) AND in Malaysia nowadays..totally corrupt and dictatorial (although well concealed). There is no justice in Malaysia for the ordinary citizens. If you go to court to sue a person who is well-connected with the ruling elite, you will never get any justice or recourse. All you investors with money, word of advice, don't put your money in Malaysia. If the PM can get away with murder, who is going to say your investment will be safe in Malaysia.
Its a shame and pity to see Malaysia degenerate into what it is today...lawlessness, collapse of the judiciary, corrupt police force, etc. Another Zimbabwe in the making. Malaysia is a land of hypocrisy. The ruling politicians and those connected with them can get away with anything from murder, rapes, criminal breach of trust, sedition and even treason. The judiciary and the police force only answers to them. The interests of the citizens are blatantly trampled. And to think that the world leaders are feting and putting out the red carpet for these ruling corrupted politicians when they travel overseas for State visits, makes me want to puke! Imagine putting out a red carpet or a State welcome for a murderer!!! Now the only chance is to look at France for justice for Altantuya and her family. But in this corrupt world anything can happen. IT MAY happen that one morning you wake up and read the headlines that MAS is buying many planes worth billions of Euro from Airbus and then you also see another headline that the French has wrapped up the case and finds no issue with the purchase of the submarines.....then it will dawn on us all the THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD ESPECIALLY FOR THE POOR OR ORDINARY PEOPLE. LIFE IS CHEAP ALL OVER THE WORLD especially in Malaysia, of course....and maybe France.
written by Tak Boleh, November 07, 2010
Nobody has ever seen the faces of the two accused. They're always been hooded up during court appearances. Won't be surprised if two other persons were be sent to the gallows instead of them. Najib will then give them new identities and send them to live elsewhere, just like the two British boys (now adults) who killed the small kid on the railway track.
written by Bor Sgai MCP, November 07, 2010
It is an open secret that Muslim Malaysia covertly supports Thai Muslim separatist movement in Southern Thailand. We beg our Thai neighbour to provide us a safe sanctuary again at the Thai border so that a non Muslim insurgency for the liberation of non Muslim, non-Malay Malaysians can be relaunched for a separate state. Most non-Malay non- Muslim are sick & tired of living under the moronic rule of these criminals.
written by Transparency, November 08, 2010
What do the "murderers" look like?
No one knows. Strange. Right? They have always been hooded. Later, will two other convicted murderers sent to the gallows bear their names? Namesake? Maybe the hangmen are also on the take. Walked in walked out. That's also hanging. Malaysia Boleh .. . . . 
written by Soothu Raman, November 08, 2010
and all the other crooks who dont raise a wimper in Parliament.Arent all these CONMEN of Malaysia too-So shameful that the Presidents of MCA,MIC,Gerakan and all those Bums can sit back and see this travesity of justice............what shameful Chinese and Indian BUMS! Every month they are collecting Malaysian taxpayers money and making money on the side-The FILTH OF OUR NATION NATION-SHAME ON YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND THAT WHICH IS TO COME-MAY THE CURSE BE ON YOU TILL YOU DIE! Just as much Murders!
written by teenaged malaysian, November 09, 2010
waahhhh....so pro wan......prime minister can do anything he wants n get away with it.....whats the future of malaysia oh?
written by Lord Denning, November 10, 2010
When the leadership in a country does not respect the rule of law, then there is no democracy. After half a century and policies that rolled back the wonderful institutions that were left behind by the British, Malaysia has become the nation of “Kutupats”. In the guise of being economical, we gave up the jury system and now we have in place a collection of civil servants totally obedient to UMNO for their bread and butter-an impotent judicial system who profess to know the law but are defacto small minded men with brains like a ‘pea”. If there was a jury system in place Anwar Ibrahim would get a fair trial.
The same can be said about the so called revamped “Anti-corruption Agency” a façade similar to the AGs Chambers, Police and all other government departments. Once the government decides everything, there is no democracy. None exists in Malaysia, sadly Malaysian are losing out. In a sense they deserve it because many support the Barisan coalition and have no spines to stand by principles and values.
written by No Hope, November 16, 2010
MUAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s achievements since taking over the mantle of the country last April had received praise from MCA.
In commending Najib for his hard work, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Barisan Nasional’s victories in the Nov 4 Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections were due to the people's acceptance of Najib's 1Malaysia concept. Dr Chua said the Chinese were pragmatic people who will support the Prime Minister for doing what is good for the country. The Malaysian Chinese are either idiots or try to be pretend to ensure their survivals. Please don 't praise in the this early stage . I remember the ex MCA president Tun Lim Liong Sik once said we were lucky to have a Genius to be the Prime Minister . Look like the Genius - Tun Mahathir cannot save him -Tun Lim is branded a" LIAR". Even he is free legally eventually the branding as a "LIAR " will stick to his family for the next and next generation. And this MCA Chua Soi Lek does not learn .Too Early to praise. Read more: MCA praises PM http://www.nst.com.my/nst/arti...z15PbqFb5N
written by dingy, November 17, 2010
New evidence is need to revive Altantuya's murder case. That will happen when Najib is ousted as PM with the fall of BN government. People who kept the secrets will emerge when that happens. I only hope to see the one who ordered the killing hanged and those implicated thrown into jail. Maybe by then we would be able to see the 2 hooded killers' face and they would be brought to court to reveal who paid them to kill.
written by May87, February 09, 2011
Malaysians should call out and speak out for the end of injustice and above-the-law practices by our leaders and institutions. We should not accept anything less than what is fair and right! In no SENSE should we allow a murderer to rule our country.
We Malaysians are NOT stupid and our politicians shouldn't treat us as if we are such. We shall not be silent over ghastly act of injustice.
 written by seahorse, August 12, 2011
THATS IS WHY THERE IS SODOMY 2 BY ANYWHERE THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE DEATH WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET ANNUAR IN BEHIND BARS TO SHUT HIM UP,,HE KNOWS TOO MUCH,,,,DONT FORGET DSAI WAS A FORMER NUMBER TWO IN UMNO
 written by Sueanne Tan, March 06, 2012
Time for wise Malaysians to get their collective actions together!!!
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