SHAH ALAM: Altantuya Shaariibuu had created a commotion outside Abdul Razak Baginda’s house two days before she was murdered.

She had shouted: "Razak, b******, you come out. I want to speak to you!"

She had also demanded US$500,000 (RM1.7 million) and three flight tickets to Mongolia.

First witness, P. Balasubramaniam, 47, told the High Court this yesterday, on the second day of trial.

The private investigator said that on the night of Oct 17 last year, Altantuya, whom he called Amina, went to Razak’s house in Bukit Damansara alone.
"Razak called me on my cell phone and told me she was creating a commotion in front of his house. I immediately went there in a cab," he said when questioned by deputy public prosecutor Tun Abd Majid Tun Hamzah.


"My assistant, Suras Kumar, came soon after in another taxi."

Balasubramaniam said he was standing outside the gate with Altantuya, while a security guard was standing inside the gate. He said he did not see Razak.

DPP: Who else was there?

Balasubramaniam: There was also a private investigator called Ang Chong Beng, whom Altantuya had hired. He was waiting in a car.

DPP: What did you do then?

Balasubramaniam: I told Suras to call the police. Two policemen arrived several minutes later and I told them Altantuya was creating a commotion. The officers took her to the Brickfields police station, and I was told to meet them there. Ang followed in his car.

Altantuya wanted to lodge a police report, but Ang persuaded her not to. He said he wanted to discuss her demands on Razak. I, too, did not lodge a police report. Instead, I called Razak’s lawyer friend, Dhiren.

DPP: What was discussed?

Balasubramaniam: Altantuya demanded US$500,000 and three flight tickets to Mongolia.

DPP: What did you do?

Balasubramaniam: I told her I would convey her demands to Razak and get back to Ang with the reply.

The witness then said he went to see Razak at noon the next day.

DPP: How did Razak react to Altantuya’s demands?

Balasubramaniam: He said he would discuss it with his friend, a senior police officer, and would decide on the next course of action. I also told him Suras and I felt threatened without a police report.

DPP: What kind of danger?

Balasubramaniam: Altantuya had engaged a private investigator. So there was the possibility he would find and harm us.

DPP: You had advised Razak several times to lodge a police report but he still didn’t. How did you feel about this?

Balasubramaniam: I told him I wanted to quit.

DPP: How did Razak Baginda react?

Balasubramaniam: He took down my particulars and told me he would contact his police friend to provide protection.

At this juncture, judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin quipped: "So now, Razak is giving you protection?" which caused the crowd to break out in laughter.

Balasubramaniam said he told Ang that he had conveyed Altantuya’s demands, but that Razak did not respond.

The witness had earlier said Altantuya, two women and a man had frequented Razak’s office. They, however, had only stood outside the office and did not enter the building.

He also said he knew the women stayed at Hotel Malaya.

"Razak told me he had given Altantuya a lot of money but she was still asking for more. That was why he hired me."

Balasubramaniam also said Altantuya had given him a letter for Razak. The letter was slipped under the door of Razak’s office.

He said he thought Razak was just a businessman.

When asked if he knew Razak had met Altantuya when he was hired as the bodyguard, the witness said he did not.