Bala's SD - Americk Sidhu clears Anwar Ibrahim from involvement

In Malaysiakini’s PI's lawyer: 'Anwar not behind Bala tapes' lawyer Americk Singh asserted that “… Anwar had nothing to do with the release of the first SD except to deliver a speech prior to the press conference at the PKR headquarters last July. I have had no communication with Anwar at all, and neither has he or any PKR member tried to contact me.”

* above underlining and bold are mine

I am greatly comforted by Americk’s assertion.

But what puzzles me a tad is that despite having no communication with Anwar or any PKR member (except of course for an encounter with Sivarasa Rasiah at ‘The Backyard’ pub and Anwar Ibrahim at the press conference) Americk was able to further assert that “… Many people think Anwar Ibrahim is behind all this. That is absolutely untrue. Anwar has no idea about this whole episode except what he may have read in the blogs and on Malaysiakini.”

I am in a somewhat similar position as Americk, sharing with him a status where I too “…have had no communication with Anwar at all, and neither has he or any PKR member tried to contact me.”

Thus I too would definitely not accuse Anwar Ibrahim of being behind Balasubramaniam’s 1st SD ... Absolutely NOT!

But precisely for that very reason, that I am not in communication with Anwar, I wouldn’t be able to claim whether Anwar was involved or not involved.

In other words, I am not able nor entitle to speak on behalf of Anwar Ibrahim on this issue. Thus I would not be able to assert Anwar did or did not do this or that.

Anyway, don’t worry about Anwar Ibrahim as he can look after himself. Besides, "... Anwar has no idea about this whole episode [the SD] except what he may have read in the blogs and on Malaysiakini” though, coincidentally of course, presenting himself at the press conference to give a speech!

Another thing which puzzles me had been Americk’s statement that “…Let me assure you, no one is paying Bala to recant on his second SD.”

I thought it was a bloke by the name of Deepak?

Ooops … sorry, I didn’t read the Malaysiakini interviewer’s question, which was “Are you representing any party? Is that party paying Bala to recant?”

OK, in this context Americk’s assurance that “… no one is paying Bala to recant on his second SD” wasn’t referring to Deepak but a political party.

But yesterday in Malaysiakini’s report Lawyer: Najib 'linked' to Bala's disappearance Americk said:

"I received a call from a member of the press at about 9.30am on July 4, 2008 asking me why my client, Bala, had called a press conference for 11am that morning at the Prince hotel."

"I was a little surprised as I had no idea what this was about so I proceeded to call Bala, who did not answer his phone. I then proceeded to make further enquiries only to find out that Bala had purportedly been represented by another lawyer, one Arunampalam who had spoken to the press at that press conference on behalf of Bala and had said that Bala was retracting the contents of his first SD as he had been forced to sign it under duress."

"When I came to know of this press conference and what transpired thereat, I was absolutely flabbergasted. Bala and I had spent two months and many hours over the first SD to ensure it was absolutely correct and for him to deny the contents in the space of 24 hours did seem incredible to me."

Indeed it must be terribly confusing and no doubt a shock for Americk that Bala had recanted on his allegation against Najib.

But suppose for one instant ... what if Bala didn’t tell him the whole story, only engaging him for the 1st SD?

Given this possibility, it was hardly surprising that Americk "... was absolutely flabbergasted" by the 2nd SD.

But then, if he didn't know Bala was going to make a 2nd SD, how could he (Americk) then know, let alone assure us that “… no one is paying Bala to recant on his second SD”?

I'm quite confused by now.

Then, in yesterday’s news Americk stated “… Bala had anticipated that he would be arrested by the police after releasing the first statutory declaration and he told me so. This is why he had handed over his mobile phone to me for safe keeping before he left my office the evening before as he did not want the police to download information from it.”

“We were therefore preparing for his arrest and then to go to the police station he was being held at to represent him.”

But in today’s Malaysiakini news Americk stated “…Remember Bala left my office at 4.45pm on July 3 with ASP Suresh. They were supposed to go and see inspector Tonny Luggan at a restaurant near the Brickfields police station after he got off work at 6.30pm.”

“That was the arrangement made when Bala was in my office. I encouraged Bala to go and meet Tonny informally as I felt it would have been to Bala's benefit. And besides, he was with ASP Suresh, a police officer, who gave the impression he was looking after Bala's interests.”

This is very puzzling, because despite anticipating Bala's arrest after the (1st) SD, yet he didn’t accompany Bala to see Inspector Tonny Luggan?

But f*, what the hell do I know about such things - afterall I'm not a lawyer. I’m sure Americk Sidhu knew what he was doing and saying.