Bala's Six Conditions For Interview With MACC

On December 3, Malaysian Insider has published an article in regards of the MACC requesting assistance from PKR Youth Chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin to provide help for the agency to find Bala in regards to the payoff claims related to the Altantuya murder case.

Excerpt:

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 4 — PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin has promised the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that he will help the agency find P. Balasubramaniam to investigate the private investigator’s claims of pay-offs related to the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

Shamsul gave his word to help the anti-graft authorities when they interviewed him today over his report about Bala’s claims that Datuk Seri Najib Razak knew murdered Mongolian model Altantuya and the private investigator was paid to retract statements to that effect.

“The prime minister can no longer remain silent on these allegations and should come forward to clear his name,” Shamsul told reporters after the interview at the MACC headquarters here.

He had lodged a report with the MACC on Wednesday against architect Nazim Razak and a businessman called Deepak Jaikishan, who were implicated by Bala as those who told him to overturn his first statutory declaration made in July 2008.

Nazim is Najib’s brother. Deepak was repeatedly named during the series of interviews published by the Malaysia-Today news portal recently and was painted as a key go-between in getting Bala to recant his initial claims which linked Najib to Altantuya.

The next day, Bala's lawyer Americk Sidhu has written an e-mail in response to En Abdul Rahman Bachok, representing MACC, indicating that Bala was prepared to provide a statement to the team. However, six conditions were laid down by Bala that must be agreed by the MACC before proceeding.

1. Interview can only be done in either Singapore or London.
2. Date and time of interview will be agreed mutually by both parties.
3. Air fares will be borne out by the MACC.
4. Accomodation, transport and etc for all parties involved will be borne by the MACC.
5. Interview transcripts will be in English language only.
6. AV recordings will be done by Bala's counsels

The conditions laid were done for his safety.

The full e-mail by Americk to En Abdul Rahman (published with consent) is as follows:

Dear En. Abdul Rahman,

Re: Report lodged by Shamsul Iskandar Mohd. Akin in relation to the recent disclosure by Balasubramaniam.

With reference to the above matter, I wish to inform you that I am counsel representing Mr. Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal.

I have been made to understand that you are desirous of interviewing Mr. Balasubramaniam in connection with the report lodged with your commission by En. Shamsul Iskandar Mohd. Akin on the 3rd December 2009.

In this respect I have been instructed to inform you that Mr. Balasubramaniam is prepared to assist you in your investigations and is further prepared to be interviewed by your goodself, with conditions as follows:

1. That the interview be conducted in either Singapore or London.

2. That the time and date of the interview be mutually agreed upon to suit all parties involved.

3. That all necessary air fares be borne by the MACC including those of counsel involved.

4. That all hotel expenses, subsistence, transportation and meals in respect of my client, myself and other counsel necessarily present, be borne by the MACC.

5. That any statement recorded from my client be in the English language and a copy thereof be given to my client.

6. That audio visual recordings of this interview be made by ourselves.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause you but we are sure you are appreciative of the fact that our client is understandably concerned about his safety and welfare if this interview were to be conducted in Malaysia and will not entertain any assurances given by your goodselves or any other party in consideration of doing so.

Please could you respond to me at this email address to enable me to contact my client for instructions in respect of any proposals you may have.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Americk Sidhu

On the 8th, another phone conversation between Americk and the MACC went on and it seems that the MACC has agreed to Bala's terms and conditions but needed assistance in the interview arrangement.

Dear En. Abdul Rahman,

Further to my email of the 4 December 2009, and to the subsequent telephone conversation between us on the 8 December 2009, I would be most obliged to receive a response to my offer of assistance in arranging an interview with my client Mr.P. Balasubramaniam.

As you obviously have my mobile number, please feel free to contact me at any time to make the necessary arrangements.

Yours sincerely,

Americk Sidhu