Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda has denied rumours he is fleeing the country and said he is unfazed about being investigated again.
This follows the recommendation of former Federal Court judge Gopal Sri Ram who called for a fresh investigation into the Scorpene submarine purchase from 2002, which was linked to the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
According to the Malaysiakini news portal, Razak said he is not concerned about being investigated again under the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.
“I have never fled. These are all unfounded rumours.
“There was a trial (over the murder of Altantuya) and I was in remand in prison for close to two years till the conclusion of the lengthy trial. I was prosecuted.
“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said the government will adhere to the rule of law and any issue of re-trial has to be in accordance with the law based on evidence and not rumours or allegations,” he said.
Abdul Razak was a former aide to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and helped facilitate the purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines from the French warship builder DCN International in 2002, which allegedly involved kickbacks.
At the time of the deal, Najib was defence minister and deputy prime minister.
The sale of the submarines made international headlines as it was related to Altantuya’s murder in 2006.
Altantuya purportedly helped with the negotiations of the submarine deal.
In 2006, police commando Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri were charged with murdering Altantuya and were subsequently convicted by the High Court in 2009.
In 2013, the appellate court acquitted both men, but the Federal Court reversed the acquittal last January and sentenced both to death.
Abdul Razak was charged with abetment in her murder, but was acquitted before the two commandos’ trial was completed. – Malay Mail