Police are gathering information and studying statements taken from individuals whom blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin claimed had exhorted him into making a statutory declaration implicating the prime minister and his wife in the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Bukit Aman CID director Mohd Bakri Mohd Zinin said this was to verify whether Raja Petra's claim was true.

He, however, declined to reveal the identities of the individuals called to give their statements to facilitate the police investigation.

azlan Raja Petra, editor of the news portal Malaysia Today , claimed that his statutory declaration linking Najib Abdul Razak to Altantuya's murder was based on information and exhortation from certain individuals who were out to prevent Najib from becoming prime minister.

He named them as Nik Azmi Nik Daud, John Pang, blogger Din Merican and military intelligence officer Col. Azmi Zainal Abidin.

Asked whether police would be calling other individuals not exposed by Raja Petra but might also be involved in the conspiracy against Najib, Bakri said police would do so if necessary.

On Sunday, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also confirmed that the ministry was investigating Col Azmi who was linked to the conspiracy.

- Bernama