Lawyer: Altantuya's name appears in French probe papers on Scorpene

Slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibu's name appears in the French prosecution investigation papers on the Scorpene scandal, said lawyer Apolline Cagnat.

"Her name does appear (in the investigation papers), although French authorities are not investigating her murder... They are interested in the case though.

"We know she (Altantuya) came (to France), we understand she had a part in translating things in the Scorpene discussions... But her role needs to be clarified," she told a press conference in Petaling Jaya this morning.

Cagnat is part of the firm engaged by NGO Suaram to file a legal challenge in France on possible corruption in the Scorpene deal.

According to court testimonies, Altantuya was in Paris sometime in early 2005 together with her then lover Abdul Razak Baginda - who received €30 million (RM137 million) in relation to the Scorpene deal.

The “architect” of the Scorpene deal Jasbir Singh Chahl had said Altantuya was never involved in the contract nor was she an interpreter for the deal, which occurred in 2002. Razak's relationship with Altantuya reportedly began in 2004.

Former Suaram member Cynthia Gabriel, however, clarified that Altantuya's name appeared in relation to an after-sales servicing deal.

"(Altantuya's name appears) for the second (servicing) contract. If you look at the timeline, it is consistent that her role might have been for the after sales deal. That needs further investigation," she said.

Malaysiakini has reached out to Razak for comment.

Altantuya was killed in Malaysia in 2006. Two of her cousins had testified in a civil suit over her death that she had come to Malaysia to collect money from Razak for translation services,

While one cousin was non-specific regarding the translation work, another, Namiraa Gerelmaa, said this was in relation to the government's alleged purchase of submarines albeit from Russia.

"She also told me the Malaysian side was going to purchase submarines from the Russians and the meeting was held in France.

"She said Razak wanted her to translate from English to Russian and vice-versa for that meeting. She told me there was an agreement." Namiraa had said.

While it has been established by her family that Altantuya does do translation work and could speak Russian, it is unclear if she spoke French.

Meanwhile, William Bourdon (second from right), another lawyer representing Suaram in the Scorpene suit, said Altantuya's murder gave the case a "smell of a thriller".

He said Cagnat and him met with the lawyers representing Altantuya's family with the hope that any revelations in her case can be another "piece" of the Scorpene puzzle.

Bourdon and Cagnat are in Malaysia to meet with Malaysian officials and answer questions they might have on the Scorpene case.

They are meeting with the MACC, attorney-general Tommy Thomas, and Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong today.

They had met with the special investigation committee on procurement, governance and finance headed by Ambrin Buang yesterday.

Cagnat said she hoped that with a new government in Malaysia, more progress can be made in the Scorpene court case in France.

This includes hopes that Malaysia would help to persuade Hong Kong to disclose information on Thales subsidiary Terasasi Ltd, so that a money trail on possible kickbacks on the Scorpene deal can be established.

The Scorpene corruption scandal centres on Thales and DCNS allegedly paying €114 million (RM570 million) in commissions and kickbacks to Malaysian officials through Perimekar Sdn Bhd, also purportedly owned by Razak, for the purchase of the two submarines by the Malaysian navy.

Razak was a close confidante of former premier Najib Abdul Razak, who was deputy prime minister and defence minister at the time of the sale.

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