Lawyer Americk Sidhu wants to meet private investigator P Balasubramaniam's widow, A Santamil Selvi, to find out whether she has discharged him from representing her and her children's suit against carpet businessman Deepak Jaikishian.

He said he wants the kindergarten teacher to come and meet him today to give instructions as the case management of her suit is fixed for tomorrow.

Americk said he had messaged Santamil Selvi asking her to come to her office and hopes that she could come and meet him.

“I have read her comments in the media but as lawyers we need to see the client to find out whether it is true she wants to discharge me.

“I also have to know from her which case is she referring to – the one at the Federal Court tomorrow or the one being heard in the High Court.

“So which case he wants me not to represent her? Is it this case (Deepak's) at the Federal Court as there are two different applications,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Americk maintains that the Deepak's case had nothing to do with politics although it may seem that way as the first defendant in the suit is the current Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak).

He was asked on the status of the case as it is going for case management.

“I will be there at the Federal Court tomorrow as an officer of the court; however, Santamil has to come and meet me to give instructions. Without that, I cannot do anything,” he said.

The lawyer suspects that the BN-friendly NGO which has been helping her could have given her wrong advice.

Letter of administration

Looking back on the case, Americk explained that he had filed the suit after getting the go-ahead from Santamil Selvi. This is about Balasubramaniam and their family's exile to India which he considered unlawful and those responsible can be held liable.

This came about after Balasubramaniam made his first statutory declaration over the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case sometime in July 2008 and then retracted it a day later.

“She (Santamil Selvi) said that she lost an income of RM3,000 to RM4,000 from operating a kindergarten and her husband lost between RM12,000 and RM15,000 from his private investigation business. In view of this, I advised her to file the lawsuit which she agreed.

“In between she appointed another lawyer to get the letter of administration of Balasubramaniam's estate but it could not be produced in time before the filing of the suit.

“I filed the application without the letter of administration,” he said.

Since then, Americk said the letter of administration of P Balasubramaniam's estate has been obtained.

Americk was also responsible for drafting the first statutory declaration by Balasubramaniam.

Santamil Selvi and her three children filed a RM1.9 million suit in naming Najib, his wife Rosmah Mansor, Najib's siblings Ahmad Johari, Nazim, senior lawyer Cecil Abraham, lawyer M Arulampalam, Deepak and commissioner of oaths Zainal Abidin Muhayat on grounds of a conspiracy to send them into exile from 2008 to 2013.

Her case against Najib and the others except Deepak had been strucked out by the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court after her lawyers tried to reinstate it in the Federal Court.

Last Wednesday, Americk was reported to have said that he had no choice but to reserve the right to bill Santamil Selvi for his legal services, despite initially saying he was doing it pro bono (for free).

Children's education

At her press conference on Saturday, Santamil Selvi allegedly accused Americk, Kapar MP G Manivannan, and Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah of promising to provide her with living expenses on condition that she agrees to an interview with Australian journalists.

She allegedly said she was to exaggerate the facts involved in the murder of the Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Americk had asked her to retract her statement or he would decide to discharge himself and Sivarasa denied making any promises to Santamil Selvi with regard to her children’s education.

It was also reported that Santamil Selvi had also recently apologised to Najib and Rosmah.

Americk also asked the pro-Najib NGO, Pertubuhan Minda Sosial dan Prihatin (PMSP), which has provided donation of more than RM20,000 to the kindergarten teacher whether it was using Santamil Selve's case for a hidden purpose.

“I want to ask the NGO whether it has also helped others in need. If so why weren't there any reports by the media? The NGO is known to be BN-friendly and I am concerned that she may have been used for a particular purpose,” said the lawyer.