PI Bala’s family, Deepak settle lawsuit related to Altantuya’s murder
The family of the late private investigator P Balasubramaniam and businessperson Deepak Jaikishan have settled a lawsuit linked to the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Following the out-of-court settlement, the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday allowed the family’s civil action to be struck out without liberty to file afresh....
The family of the late private investigator P Balasubramaniam and businessperson Deepak Jaikishan have settled a lawsuit linked to the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.
Following the out-of-court settlement, the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday allowed the family’s civil action to be struck out without liberty to file afresh.
Balasubramaniam, also known as PI Bala, was a key witness in Altantuya’s murder trial in 2006.
Lawyer Guok Ngek Seong, who represented his widow A Santamil Selvi and her three children, confirmed that they have resolved the legal action with Deepak (above) over the family’s alleged forced exile to India following the 2006 killing.
The counsel said following the amicable settlement, judge Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh yesterday struck out the civil action.
“Both parties have settled the matter on terms that are to remain confidential,” Guok added when contacted.
Besides Santamil, the other three plaintiffs in the civil suit are her children B Kishen, B Menaga, and B Reeshi.
Seeking RM840k in damages
The family’s lawsuit initially included former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor, and six others.
However, they succeeded in an earlier bid to remove themselves from the civil suit.
Besides Najib and Rosmah, the others were the former premier’s siblings Ahmad Johari and Mohd Nazim; lawyers Cecil Abraham, Sunil Abraham and Arulampalam Mariampillai; and commissioner of oaths Zainal Abidin Muhayat.
When contacted, Deepak confirmed the amicable settlement.
The businessperson also reiterated a past allegation that Najib and the others got themselves removed from the suit over purported fear of the truth being exposed in court related to an alleged conspiracy involving the Altantuya matter.
"As this 'conspiracy' suit was deemed redundant due to the fact that one defendant (Deepak) alone cannot be in a conspiracy as it would require more than one person for a conspiracy suit to take place, the lawyers proposed a resolution in order to have a closure and I magnanimously agreed with due respect to PI Bala’s family and all that they had to go through the last five years," Deepak claimed.
Balasubramaniam died of a heart attack on March 15, 2013, a few weeks after returning from India.
Through their civil suit, the family alleged that they had to move to India in exile due to the second statutory declaration made by Balasubramaniam regarding Altantuya's murder.
The family claimed that they stayed in India for four years and eight months from July 4, 2008.
The widow and her children were seeking RM840,000 in damages - inclusive of apartment rental in Chennai, India, school fees, and loss of income as a kindergarten teacher, housing loan, and transportation costs.
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