Monday, May 30, 2011

Scorpene Submarine 'kickbacks'

Suaram's French lawyers have informed the NGO that investigations by French prosectors have found evidence of commissions being paid.Payments of 114.96 million euros( Rm574.8 million)wass paid to Malaysian consulting company, Perimekar Sdn bhd,another 30 million euros ( RM150 million )to DCN's commercial network, Thales and another 2.5 million euros to an unknown recipient.
Initially in 2006,then Deputy Defence Minister Zainal Abidin Zin was quoted as saying that the commissions was paid 'voluntarily'( to Perimekar)by the French parties in the deal.In 2008, however, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told parliament that the govt had indeed paid the 114.96 million euros to Perimekar and that it was for 'coordination services' and not for commission
According to Suaram, French investigations revealed that the amount paid was a form of kickbacks ' for the sole purpose of circumventing the OECD convention'

What is most interesting in this whole sordid episode is that Perimekar is a subsidiary K.S Ombak Laut sdn Bhd,and the major shareholder is the wife of Abdul Razak Baginda, a close confidante of the current Premier, Najib abdul Razak. Abdul Razak Baginda was acquited of the murder of translator, Altantuya Shariibuu and instead two bodyguards of Najib was charged and convicted for the murder of the Mongolian model cum translator.

When the case do go to open trial it will becoming interesting to see how Najib was involved in the scorpene kickbacks.This reason alone will prompt Najib to call for an early election to circumvent the revelation of the Scorpene kickbacks which undoubtedly will leave a trail leading to Najib's doorstep.

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