PI retracts stunning statutory declaration

Jul 4, 08 11:10am

Private detective P Balasubramaniam today retracted his stunning statutory declaration which had linked Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. The said declaration also had claims that Najib had a sexual relationship with Altantuya and that he was the one who had introduced Altantuya to Abdul Razak Baginda. Balasubramaniam said that he was forced to make the declaration under duress. At a press conference in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur this morning, he produced a new statutory declaration. Missing from the new statutory declaration were references of Najib having a sexual relationship with Altantuya nor of Najib being the person who allegedly introduced Abdul Razak to the Mongolian woman. Also with the PI this morning was his new lawyer. His other lawyer, Americk Sidhu, who was with him yesterday was unaware of the latest development. The press conference is still underway. Yesterday Balasubramaniam made shocking revelations that he had heard from Abdul Razak himself on the links between Najib and Altantuya. But today he said that he wanted to withdraw the first statutory declaration filed on July 1 and replace it with the new one which he revealed today. "I wish to retract the first declaration. I was compelled to affirm the July 1 declaration under duress," he said. He however did not reveal who forced him to affirm the first declaration. Balasubramaniam was hired by Abdul Razak to deal with Altantuya in 2006 when she started ‘harassing' the former head of think-tank and a close confidant of Najib.