France-Malaysia defence contracts,required that substantial transfer of money to individuals and UMNO...

Human rights NGO Suaram has revealed that the name of an individual closely linked to former finance minister Daim Zainuddin is mentioned in the French prosecution papers on alleged corruption in Malaysia’s RM7.3 billion purchase of two Scorpene-class submarines in 2002.

At a press conference in Bangkok today, Suaram director Cynthia Gabriel said French police had seized documents including a note for the French defence minister dated July 2, 1999.


This related to an interview with then Malaysian defence minister Najib Abdul Razak and French-Malaysian diplomacy on defence matters.


"The note mentions one Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Noor and Abdul Razak Baginda as points of reference for political network," she said.


"It further states that both have strong political connections as Mohd Ibrahim is close to Daim, and Abdul Razak to Najib.”


She said the note explains that by early 2001, Mohd Ibrahim's influence had begun to decline in tandem with Daim’s waning power.


Mohd Ibrahim's name then ‘disappeared’ from Perimekar Sdn Bhd - said to have served as intermediary in the Scorpene purchase - both as shareholder and director. He was replaced later by those in Abdul Razak's network.


Gabriel said consultants (company agents) are used as "political network" agents to facilitate monetary transfers and to receive commissions from their mandators.

Abdul Razak (left) eventually became the main point of reference for political network to facilitate the money transfer, she claimed.

"The note stated that ... Abdul Razak maintained excellent ties with the defence minister and the prime minister. Furthermore, his wife is a close friend of the defence minister’s wife. Therefore, Abdul Razak became the centre of the network.

In a document tagged ‘Malaysia’, there is a confidential report on Perimekar and Terasasi Sdn Bhd - owned by Abdul Razak and his father - as well as a report that includes a note on ‘retracing the background of negotiations’, said Gabriel.

The note states that, pursuant to the major defence contracts between France and Malaysia, there was a requirement that substantial transfer of money had to be channelled to individuals and political organisations like UMNO.

Lawyers R Sivarasa and Fadiah Nadwa Fikri were at the press conference - hosted by Forum-Asia executive director Yap Swee Seng - alongside Suaram’s French lawyer Joseph Breham and Malaysian embassy officials.- malaysiakini

Najib looking at red notice...

There is a possibility of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi being issued an international warrant of arrest if they fail to adhere to French subpoenas to assist in the Scorpene submarine corruption inquiry.

Suaram’s French lawyer Joseph Breham(left) told a press conference in Bangkok today that the French judges hearing the inquiry have discretionary powers to ask the Interpol to issue a red notice (an international warrant of arrest) against witnesses who failed to submit to the French court.

However this would be the last resort to be undertaken to compel witnesses to testify in Paris.

Breham explained that the French court is able to take on several courses of action, in compelling the Malaysian witnesses.

He said that the judges will first issue a subpoena in writing on a witness, and once a subpoena has been issued, the witness is obliged to appear before the courts and to assist the courts in its works.

“If the witness refuses to abide by the subpoena, the court can issue a notice ‘mandate d ‘amener’, compelling the witness to appear before it.

“If the witness fails to oblige, a warrant of arrest may be issued. The warrant of arrest is applicable within the boundaries of the French territory, and may be internationalised, if the judge deems necessary.

“Based on the judges’ discretionary power, they can ask Interpol to issue a red notice i.e an international warrant of arrest,” he added.

He also said that judge Roger Le Loire, one of the two Instruction Judges assigned to oversee the case, had principally accepted Suaram’s list of seven proposed witnesses, including Najib, Zahid Hamidi and Abdul Razak Baginda.

“Judge Le Loire after hearing an elaborate testimony from Suaram, accepted our statement, and promised to proceed with the inquiry with no stone unturned,” said Breham.

He added that on the acceptance of the seven witnesses proposed by Suaram, the French judge had asked for the full details of the persons involved, in order to begin issuing subpoenas as he saw fit.

Legal obligations

In a statement issued by Suaram after the press conference in Bangkok, the human rights NGO said that Malaysia has legal obligations under the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to cooperate with other nation states in preventing, investigating and prosecuting offenders of corruption.

It added that state parties are bound to render specific forms of mutual legal assistance in gathering and transferring evidence for use in court and to extradite offenders.

Suaram also said that it has gained full privileged access to the 153 investigation papers from the French Public Prosecutor’s office.

“This is a huge step forward, as many of the details kept confidential are now made accessible to Suaram as the civil plaintiff in the criminal case against the DCNS (French shipbuilding company),” it said.

It said that in one document – named Document 97 – was a note for the French Minister of Defense dated June 2, 1999 related to an interview with the Malaysian Defence Minister and the French-Malaysian diplomatic relationships as far as defense is concerned.

“The note states that pursuant to the major defence contracts between France and Malaysia, there is a requirement that substantial transfer of money has to be channeled to individuals and/or political organisations.

“The note specifically states that apart from individuals, the ruling party (Umno) is the biggest beneficiary. Consultants (company agents) are often used as political network agents to facilitate these monetary transfers and to receive commissions from their mandators,” said Suaram’s statement.

Wives’ network

It further said that the note mentioned about Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Noor and Razak Baginda as points of reference for political network, while adding that Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Noor was close to the then Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin and Razak Baginda to the then Defence Minister Najib.

“The note also explains that by early 2001, Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Noor’s influence began to decline following the fall from power of the Minister of Finance, Daim Zainuddin which resulted in the disappearance of Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Noor’s name from Perimekar both as shareholder and director which was later replaced by people of Razak Baginda’s network.

“Razak Baginda eventually becomes the main point of reference for political network to facilitate the money transfer,” added Suaram.

Suaram said the note also pointed out that Razak’s wife was a close friend of Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor.

Suaram also said that it was holding its press conference in Bangkok – and not in Kuala Lumpur – following the forced deportation of one of Suaram’s lawyers, William Bourdon, last July when he visited Malaysia to speak about the case.

Suaram’s complaint with the French courts for a judicial review of the Scorpene contract in November 2009 has resulted in the commencement of a judicial inquiry at the Tribunal De Grande Instance in Paris.

The inquiry will probe alleged corruption crimes and illegal bribes involving top officials from both Malaysia and France in the sale of two Scorpene submarines by French shipbuilding company DCNS to the Malaysian Defence Ministry, then helmed by Najib.- FMT

More Trouble over Subs for Najib

Sekutu Daim disebut dalam kertas pendakwaan...

Badan hak asasi manusia, Suaram, mendedahkan bahawa nama seorang individu yang didakwa rapat dengan bekas Menteri Kewangan, Tun Daim Zainuddin disebut dalam kertas pendakwaan Perancis berhubung dakwaan rasuah dalam pembelian Malaysia dua kapal selam kelas Scorpene berharga RM7.3 bilion pada tahun 2002.

Dalam satu sidang akhbar di Bangkok hari ini, Pengarah Suaram, Cynthia Gabriel berkata polis Perancis telah merampas dokumen termasuk nota untuk menteri pertahanan Perancis bertarikh 2 Julai 1999.

Ini berkaitan kepada satu temubual dengan menteri pertahanan Malaysia ketika itu, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dan diplomasi Perancis-Malaysia mengenai perkara-perkara berkaitan pertahanan.

"Nota tersebut menyebut nama Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Noor dan Abdul Razak Baginda sebagai tempat rujukan untuk rangkaian politik," katanya.

"Ia seterusnya menyatakan bahawa kedua-duanya mempunyai hubungan politik yang kuat kerana Mohd Ibrahim rapat dengan Daim, dan Abdul Razak rapat dengan Najib."

Menurut Cynthia, satu lagi nota menjelaskan bahawa menjelang awal tahun 2001, pengaruh Mohd Ibrahim telah mula menurun sejajar dengan kuasa Daim yang semakin susut.

Nama Mohd Ibrahim kemudian 'hilang' dari syarikat Perimekar Sdn Bhd - yang dikatakan menjadi perantara dalam pembelian Scorpene - sebagai pemegang saham dan pengarah. 

Beliau digantikan kemudiannya oleh mereka dalam rangkaian Abdul Razak.- malaysiakini


Daim Zainuddin Dan Mahathir Turut Terlibat Selain Najib Altantuya?

Kenyatan Akhbar SUARAM di Bangkok

cheers.