Altantuya Murder Case-21/7/07

Thursday, June 21, 2007
Altantuya Murder Case-21/7/07

Altantuya Admitted She Had Someone Called Baginda In M'sia, Court Told

SHAH ALAM, June 21 (Bernama) -- Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu admitted to her father that she travelled frequently to Malaysia because "she had somebody there whose name is Baginda", the High Court here heard Thursday.
This was related to the court by Altantuya's father, Shaariibuu Setev, who was called as the second prosecution witness in the trial of political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda and two policemen charged with abetment and the murder of Altantuya.
Shaariibuu, who gave his address as 18 Khor Flat No 56, Ulanbator, Mongolia, said his daughter told him that she had "somebody" there before she made her third trip to Malaysia last year, when he asked why she liked going to Malaysia so much.
Shaariibuu, in a striped shirt, gave his evidence in the Mongolian language with a Mongolian national acting as interpreter. Enkhjargal is married to a Malaysian and possesses permanent residence status.
Crossed-examined by deputy public prosecutor Manoj Kurup, he said Altantuya, who was not married and was living on her own with her two children, had called to inform him that she was making another trip to Malaysia.
At his request, Altantuya went to see him on Oct 7 or 8 last year before she left for Malaysia, he said.
Manoj: When she came to see you on Oct 7 or 8, what did she say?
Shaariibuu: She didnt say, I asked.
Manoj: What did you ask?
Shaariibuu: I asked why do you like Malaysia so much? Why do you want to go there?
Manoj: Did she give you an answer?
Shaariibuu: Yes
Manoj: What did she say?
Shaariibuu: First I asked her, you already went twice. Why are you going again. I also asked do you have anybody as a reason to go there. She said yes.
Manoj: Did you ask anything further?
Shaariibuu: I asked what is the relationship
Manoj: Did she give you a reply?
Shaariibuu: Yes. She said she met a guy whose name is Baginda. She has somebody in Malaysia whose name is Baginda.
At this juncture, the court ended the proceedings for the day as it was already 4.55pm and the prosecution will continue with Shaariibuu's evidence tomorrow.
Earlier, the 57-year-old doctor and professor in psychology said he was married to Altensetseg Sanjaa, 52, and they had two daughters, Altantuya and Altanzul.
He said his younger daughter, Altanzul, had just given birth to a baby and lived with them in Mongolia. He said Altanzul used to work for a Russian company.
Shaariibuu said Altantuya, who was working as a translator and travelled overseas including to Malaysia, Singapore and China, visited Malaysia about two years ago, which could be her first trip but he could not remember the month.
Asked when was Altantuya's second trip to Malaysia, he said it was in August last year and his daughter phoned him to say that she was going to Malaysia again.
The two policemen, Chief Insp Azilah Hadri, 30, and Cpl Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location between lots 12843 and 16735, Mukim Bukit Raja, here between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year while Abdul Razak, 46, is charged with abetting them.
Before the court adjourned, Sirul Azhar's counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin applied to the court for a half-day trial from next Friday onwards but Justice Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin said: "We decide later".


Assistant PI Fired For Having 'Close' Relationship With Mongolian Women

SHAH ALAM, June 21 (Bernama) -- P. Balasubramaniam, the lead private eye hired by Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, heated up further the Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial Thursday when he told the High Court here that he had to fire his assistant for being too close to her and three other Mongolian women.
Balasubramaniam, 47, who continued with his testimony on the fourth day of the trial, said Razak, the third accused, had instructed him to terminate the services of his assistant K. Suras Kumar on the grounds that he (Suras) "was too close to the four Mongolian women, including Altantuya."
"I had explained to him (Razak) how Suras had come to be in contact with Altantuya at the Lembaga Getah Asli Malaysia Building (where Razak's office is located ) on Oct 9, 2006.
"Before Oct 18, 2006, I had also been asked by Razak whether Suras and the Mongolian women were still in contact. On Oct 18, Razak told me to fire Suras and also two other of my assistants," Balasubramaniam told the court.
The first prosecution witness, however, said he had no knowledge that Suras had booked a room at the Hotel Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, where the women were staying and that he (Suras) had an affair with one of them.
To a question by defence counsel Wong Kian Kheong, representing Razak, Balasubramaniam said he did not agree with a suggestion by Wong that Suras was having affairs with them.
Balasubramaniam, however, could not answer Wong's question as to what "close relationship" between Suras and the Mongolian women meant.
Judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin then interrupted and asked Balasubramaniam to answer the question while saying "You don't agree there was an affair or affairs, if not, then what is meant by "close relationship" here?
Balasubramaniam again did not respond and maintained his earlier answer, "I had terminated Suras on the instruction of Razak."
He also said Suras did not take any legal action against him for doing so.
Balasubramaniam also said that he never told Razak that Altantuya stayed at Hotel Malaya.
"It was he (Razak) who told me that (Altantuya stayed there)," he said.
"Oh, now it is the third accused who has become the private investigator!," Wong remarked sarcastically, causing those in court to break out in laughter.
Balasubramaniam further said that it was not he who had told Razak about Room 823 at the hotel (Altantuya's room at it), as he himself did not know about it.
In the proceedings this afternoon, Balasubramaniam appeared fidgety and dour when bombarded with questions on his statement in court on Monday (the opening day of the trial) that Razak was smiling when asked about the status of Altantuya at his office on Oct 20.
"I put it to you, something as serious as involving the life of a woman, the third accused could not have been smiling?" said Wong
Balasubramaniam replied:" His face is a smiling one."
"Smiling face and smiling are two different things," Mohd Zaki interrupted.
When the question was repeated to him by Wong, Balasubramaniam answered "agree" while shaking his head and stroking his temple.
"Stop smiling and laughing. This is a serious case, you are under oath and must tell the truth," the judge reminded Balasubramaniam when he (Balasubramaniam) too began smiling away.
Balasubramaniam then continued, saying, "He (Razak) smiled and asked me to guess where Altantuya was being held."
Mohd Zaki then put down his pen and stopped recording notes and asked," Now what?"
"The witness is taking us for a spin. One moment smiling, then smiling face, then agreeing and now smiling and asking to guess," said Wong, who seemed confused at what the witness was trying to get at.
Mohd Zaki then asked Balasubramaniam again what is his answer to Wong's question about Razak's demeanour at the time.
Balasubramaniam finally answered, "Yes, he was smiling and asked me to guess (where Altantuya was)."
During the cross examination, Balasubramaniam also agreed that he had never stated in his cautioned statement (to the Police) of Oct 24, that Altantuya had demanded money from Razak but instead had written "asked for".
He further said that he had not mentioned of any threats by Altantuya if she did not get US$500,000 (RM1.7 million) and plane tickets to return home to Razak until he met the latter at noon on Oct 18.
He also admitted that despite the risks involved in taking up the case, he himself was willing to serve Razak until Oct 26.


Balasubramaniam Admits Lying To Altantuya

SHAH ALAM, June 21 (Bernama) -- Private investigator P. Balasubramaniam admitted in the murder trial of a Mongolian model here Thursday that he lied to Altantuya Shaariibuu that the driver of the red Proton Wira car that came to Abdul Razak Baginda's house was a relative of the political analyst.
Balasubramaniam, 47, made the confession when cross-examined by lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, representing Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, who is jointly charged with Chief Insp Azilah Hadri with mudering Altantuya, 28.
Kamarul Hisham: "We are placing our hopes on you to testify truthfully. Can you do that?
Balasubramaniam: "Yes".
Kamarul Hisham: "On Oct 19 2006 when Altantuya asked you to tell the truth, you lied to her, didn't you? You told her that the people in the red Proton Wira car were relatives of Abdul Razak when they were actually police officers."
Balasubramaniam: "Yes."
Balasubramaniam also said he did not divulge anything about Altantuya to the police although he had often contacted the police when he was working for Abdul Razak.
He also told the court that Abdul Razak paid him the balance of his RM2,000 fee on Oct 20 2006.
"The total fee was RM7,000 and not RM4,000 as was agreed to as per our discussions initially and an additional RM3,000 for the extra men I had to engage," he added.
Azilah, 30, and Sirul Azhar, 35, both attached to the police Special Action Squad, are charged with murdering Altantuya, 28, at a location between lots 12843 and 16735 in Mukim Bukit Raja here between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20 last year.
Abdul Razak Baginda, 46, is charged with abetting them.


PI says he was not asked to kill Mongolian woman

SHAH ALAM: Private eye P. Balasubramaniam told a High Court here that accused Abdul Razak Baginda had never asked him to murder a Mongolian woman named Altantuya.
He was testifying on the fourth day of the trial in which two policemen are alleged to have killed the Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Razak Baginda is alleged to have abetted the two policemen.
Testifying as the first prosecution witness, he said the political analyst had never instructed him to hurt anyone before.
"I would have lodged a police report if anyone asked me to kill someone else," he said.
To a suggestion by Wong Kian Kheong, counsel for Abdul Razak, Balasubramaniam, said there was no necessity for the political analyst to lodge a police report against Altantuya for just being outside his office on Oct 9 last year.
Balasubramaniam agreed that Abdul Razak did not have to lodge a police report because of several reasons.
Among others, the analyst did not want anything untoward to happen to Altantuya and did not want any publicity.
He was prepared to wait for Altantuya's return to Mongolia on her own once she ran out of money here.