SCORPENE DEAL CONTROVERSY

SCORPENE DEAL CONTROVERSY - UNTOLD STORY

SLAIN Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu was never in France from 1999 to 2006, the year she died.
In a startling disclosure following an exhaustive inves tigation, the French authorities have revealed that Altantuya, who had been linked to defence analyst Abdul Razak Bagin da, was never in France during that time.
The independent French investigation, covering several agencies including the French immigration, was initiated  after Malaysian human rights non-governmental organ isation Suaram lodged a complaint in the French courts in  2010, claiming that French naval firm DCNS had paid RM452 million as a bribe to Malaysian officials to obtain the contract  for two Scorpene submarines.
The amount was paid to Perimekar Sdn Bhd, the company in charge of the logistics and the training of the officers and  men of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s Submarine Force and covered project management and project integration  ser vices, coordinating the involvement of Malaysian companies in the industrial participation programme in the provision of services during the construction phase and to monitor the performance of these firms, helping the main contractor comply with all local laws and procedures relating to the execution of  the contract, coordinating and monitoring the training of RMN personnel in compliance with the main contract and in accordance with Malaysian Government and RMN expectations, and providing monthly reports on all of  the  above.
The biggest chunk of the fees went to the provision of  food and accommodation and all the necessary services for the training  of RMN personnel and their families in Brest, France, and Spain, for a period of six years, inclusive of  health insurance premiums and per diem allowances of a minimum of Euro50 per person.
Other costs include their return travel fares to Malaysia three times a year. In all, 145 RMN personnel, including 49 officers and dependents were covered by this. Perimekar’s profit after tax was RM105,111,191.
Razak had helped Jasbir Singh Chahl work out the details in the purchase of the two Perdana Menteri-class diesel- powered fast-attack boats.
According to Razak’s Baginda’s evidence in court, he only met Altantuya in late 2004. The negotiations for the Scorpenes began in 2000 and the deal was inked in 2002.
A source close to the French investigations said that the investigations currently centres on the alleged corruption,  and nothing more.
One of the myths that has been “accepted” as gospel was that Altantuya had acted as a translator for Razak.
However, in his deposition to the French authorities, former DCNS marketing manager for Malaysia and Singapore at the time, Fredric Faura, told investigators that there was no need for an interpreter since negotiations were in English and  Malaysians were fluent in the language.

Read more: Altantuya was never in France from 1999 to 2006: French Police - Latest - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/latest/altantuya-was-never-in-france-from-1999-to-2006-french-police-1.327658?cache=03%2F7.212326%3Fpage%3D0%3Fpage%3D0%2F7.186146%2F7.261895%2F7.273272%2F7.320411%2F7.320411#ixzz2aHEBSIcM