'Altantuya persuaded not to lodge report'

'Altantuya persuaded not to lodge report'
R. Surenthira Kumar

SHAH ALAM (June 26, 2007): Altantuya Shaariibuu was persuaded not to lodge a police report against political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda because he was of "high standing", the court heard today.

Private investigator Ang Chong Beng said P. Balasubramaniam, the private investigator hired by Abdul Razak, asked him to talk Altantuya out of her intention to lodge a report against Abdul Razak after she was picked up by the police.

DPP Manoj Kurup: What did Bala tell you?
Ang: Bala said Abdul Razak was a ‘top man’ (gesturing with his hand over his head) and did not want his name to appear in the media or let anything like that from happening.

Manoj: What else did Bala tell you?
Ang: He told me to call Amina (Ang had explained earlier he knew Altantuya by the name of Amina) out of the police station and settle the matter.

Judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin: Settle what?
Ang: He told me to tell Amina not to make a report against Abdul Razak.

Ang, 56, the fifth prosecution witness, who said he worked with the Cisco security company in Singapore before becoming a private investigator in 1984, was hired by Altantuya.

Asked by Manoj what his response was, Ang said: "I said it is good that way, so that everything can be settled."

Manoj: So, you agreed the matter be settled?
Ang: Yes.

Manoj: Did you discuss about settling the matter with Amina?
Ang: Yes.

Mohd Zaki: After that?
Manoj: Yes, after that, what was Amina’s reaction?
Ang: I told Amina to come out of the police station and meet Bala and his assistant, K. Suras Kumar, to settle the matter.

Manoj: What happened when she met Bala and Suras after coming
out of the station?
Ang: She said she did not lodge a report against Abdul Razak, but demanded US$500,000 from him.

Manoj: Amina said this to whom?
Ang: She said this to Bala.

Manoj: When Amina said this to Bala, were you beside her?
Ang: Yes.

Manoj: So you heard the demand?
Ang: Yes.

Manoj: Did Bala say anything?
Ang: He said he will bring up the matter to Abdul Razak’s attention.

Ang had said earlier he was employed by Altantuya last September to find out if her ‘husband’, whom Ang identified as Abdul Razak, was in town or overseas.

He said Amina deposited US$600 into his bank account as initial payment. She also pleaded him to help her as she was poor and did not have much money to pay for his services.

Ang said he succeeded in locating Abdul Razak’s address as he had many contacts, including one from the Road Transport Department.

He told Manoj he had taken Altantuya and two other Mongolian women – Namiraa Gerelmaa and Uuriintuya Gal Ochir – to Abdul Razak’s office in Bangunan Lembaga Getah Asli Malaysia on several occasions and once to his house.

Hearing continues tomorrow.