TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

French lawyer in Malaysia to aid submarine graft probe

William Bourdon, who represents local human rights group Suaram over the French submarine deal, was deported from Malaysia on his last visit in 2011 when Najib's scandal-mired regime was still in power. 

News Desk (Agence France-Presse)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tue, February 12, 2019

Share This Article

Change Size

French lawyer in Malaysia to aid submarine graft probe French Defence Minister Herve Morin (L) and Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Najib Razak, attend 23 October 2007 in Cherbourg, Normandy, northwestern France, the launching of the first of two conventional Scorpion submarines ordered by Malaysia. Constructed jointly by the French company DCNS and Spain's Navantia is expected to be delivered to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) in early 2009. The submarines, which are 67.5 metres (201 feet) long and weigh 1,550 tonnes will be operated by a team of 31 sailors and can patrol for 45 days at a stretch. AFP PHOTO MYCHELE DANIAU (AFP/Michele Daniau)

A

French lawyer probing a controversial submarine deal linked to Malaysia's ousted leader Najib Razak was Tuesday set to meet officials to aid investigations into the scandal.

William Bourdon, who represents local human rights group Suaram over the French submarine deal, was deported from Malaysia on his last visit in 2011 when Najib's scandal-mired regime was still in power. 

But after a historic change of government last year, he returned to the country to help a new investigation into the case.

Malaysia purchased two French-made Scorpene submarines for $1.2 billion in 2002 while Najib was defence minister. 

The French submarine maker Naval Group -- then called DCNS -- is alleged to have paid more than 114 million euros ($128 million) in kickbacks to a shell company linked to Abdul Razak Baginda, a close Najib associate who brokered the deal.

Razak Baginda's Mongolian mistress Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was said to have demanded a cut for translating during negotiations, was shot dead and her body blown up with military-grade plastic explosives near Kuala Lumpur in 2006.

The case sank off the radar after a Malaysian court in 2008 cleared Razak Baginda of abetting the murder, sparking allegations of a huge cover-up to protect Najib. 

Bourdon was set to meet with Malaysian Attorney-General Tommy Thomas on Tuesday to discuss the case, and anti-corruption officials.

"This is a complex case, you can imagine that they will like from us to update (them about) the proceedings in France," he told a press conference. 

"Of course we will answer the questions as far as we can."

A French investigation was launched in 2010 after complaints from Suaram, and has already led to four French executives involved in the deal and Razak Baginda being charged. They all deny wrongdoing.

Najib was questioned by anti-graft officials over the case in November after Malaysia's new government took office and reopened investigations into the submarine deal.

The former premier, who is also embroiled in a separate scandal over the alleged looting of state fund 1MDB, denies any wrongdoing.

Najib's long-ruling coalition was voted out of power in May in large part due to the 1MDB scandal. The ex-leader has been arrested over the controversy and is due to stand trial.

 

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.