Senior lawyers Cecil Abraham and Americk Sidhu will be subpoenaed to assist in investigations by French authorities into the signing of the second statutory declaration (SD) by the late private investigator P Balasubramaniam.

Human rights NGO Suaram's Cynthia Gabriel and lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri revealed today that Cecil was being subpoenaed by the French judiciary investigating authorities for his role in drafting the second SD.

Americk Sidhu is also to be subpoenaed by the French investigators on the same matter as he had represented Balasubramaniam in the first SD.

NONE Americk revealed during the Malaysian Bar annual general meeting last month that Cecil ( left ) had told him that he helped draft Balasubramaniam's second SD (in 2008) on instructions from (then Deputy Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak.

"Our lawyers have submitted a report on the latest developments to the investigating judge.

"These suggest strong elements of criminal intimidation and obstruction of justice by Najib in instructing the second statutory declaration made by Balasubramaniam," Cynthia told a press conference today.

Cynthia and Fadiah returned from France yesterday, where they had met with the two investigating judges, Roger Leloire and Serge Tourmaire.

Suaram in 2009 filed a complaint against French defence giant DCNS for paying commissions to Malaysian officials in connection with the purchase of two Scorpene submarines. The payment of commissions is illegal under French law.

The Tribunal deGrande Instance of France convened a criminal inquiry and Suaram was accepted as a civil party in its probe in March 2012.

'Probe extended into Altantuya's death'

Cythia said the French judges have agreed to extend their investigations into circumstances that led to the death Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, and how Najib allegedly abused his powers as the then deputy prime minister to cover the truth behind Altantuya's brutal death.

NONE She also noted that the Bar Council has referred Cecil to the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board for professional misconduct.

"Hence, Cecil is being probed not only in Malaysia but also in France," Cynthia ( right ) said.

Suaram's lawyer William Bourdon said in a telephone interview that the Hong Kong authorities have also agreed to assist the French authorities in their probe into the company Terasasi (Hong Kong) Ltd , which allegedly received kickback payments for the purchase of two Scorpene submarines by Malaysia.

However, the French lawyer would not disclose what form the cooperation was taking, only saying that this would be revealed in the coming days.

NONE Terasasi is owned by political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda and his father. Razak is a close confidante of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and he had been charged with abetting in the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Bourdon ( left ) said Cecil and Americk would be subpoenaed soon and he hoped they would come to France to be interviewed.

The French lawyer came to Malaysia in 2011 to deliver a talk on the French investigations into the Scorpene scandal, but was deported by the authorities.

Cynthia added the investigations into Terasasi stemmed not only from alleged kickbacks and corruption but also involved money laundering.

She said Suaram will reveal more on this in the coming weeks, but this only upon approval from the investigating judges.

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