AG can direct new investigation on SD2

The Attorney-General has the power the instruct the police to launch a new probe on private investigator, P Balasubramaniam’s second statutory declaration (SD2), said PKR vice president N Surendran.

He was responding to Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail’s statement yesterday that he had no power to launch investigation on the SD 2, which allegedly contained fabrication of evidence done by a veteran lawyer.

“How I wish I have the power to [investigate the case]. I am not [like] the AG in the US.

“I was already criticised for having too much power, and some say my power should be taken away,” Gani was reported saying.

Surendran concurred that while Gani’s office has no investigation powers, the latter could always direct the police to launch new investigation based on the police reports lodged on SD 2.

“If there is police report, Gani can direct the police to do a probe and ask for the investigation papers.

“Besides, not launching a fresh probe on it would be in breach of the Police Act 1967,” he said.

Training his guns on Gani, Surendran accused the former of attempting to protect Umno and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak by ignoring SD2.

“If it had been Anwar (Ibrahim), so many charges would have been levelled on him by now,” he said.

Last year, carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan revealed that he was one of the key persons involved in getting Balasubramaniam to retract his first SD on July 1, 2008.

The first SD implicated Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor in the death of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. However, he omitted the duo’s involvement in SD2.

Deepak also alleged that a “Tan Sri” lawyer was involved in preparing the new document.

Later, former MACC advisory panel member Robert Phang alleged that the “Tan Sri” lawyer was Cecil Abraham, who currently sits in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) panel. -FMT