'Private eye had appointment with police'

'Private eye had appointment with police'
Jul 08, 2008
The New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Private investigator P. Balasubramaniam was supposed to meet a police officer to have his statement recorded on Thursday after he made public his first statutory declaration.

ASP Tonny Lunggan, who is the senior investigating officer in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case, said he contacted Balasubramaniam around noon and set an appointment to meet him at the Brickfields police station in the evening.

"He called later to confirm the appointment but he did not show up," Lunggan said.

"I called him on his mobile phone several times in the evening but there was no reply. I am still trying to locate him."

Lunggan dismissed a statement by lawyer Americk Singh Sidhu that Balasubramaniam was supposed to have dinner with him.

The police officer said the need to record a statement came at the instruction of his superior.

The private investigator gave evidence in the Altantuya murder trial last year .

Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar are charged with the murder of the Mongolian woman while political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda is charged with abetment.

Meanwhile, Americk said Balasubramaniam left his office in Ampang at 4.45pm together with the lawyer's bodyguard.

"My bodyguard informed me that they did not go to the police station. Instead, they went for dinner in Cheras and Balasubramaniam was dropped off at his home in Rawang about 9pm," the lawyer said.

Americk said the bodyguard also told him that he met Balasubramaniam's wife that evening.

He said he was still on record, as Balasubramaniam's lawyer, as he had not been discharged by his client.

Americk brought up this point as Balasubramaniam was accompanied by another lawyer identified as Arulampalam Mariampillai on Friday morning when he publicly retracted his sworn statement.

He said said under the rules of practice and etiquette for lawyers, Arulampalam should have informed him if he was representing Balasubramaniam.

"A lawyer is not supposed to appear for a party already represented unless he obtains the consent of the first lawyer," Americk said.

Attempts to get in touch with Arulampalam at his office in Subang Jaya have drawn a blank.