Americk Singh's fellow member of a historically noble profession

On 20 December 2012, in The Malaysian Insider's news report Cecil is a lawyer of the highest integrity – Americk Singh Sidhu, the lawyer of the late Perumal Balasubramanian (Bala), Americk Singh, stated:

Americk Singh Sidhu 

Deepak has gone on record to say that the lawyers involved in the preparation of that 2nd SD were in fact a ‘Tan Sri and his son who is also a lawyer’.

This statement has, in the circumstances, publically perpetrated, by insinuation and deduction, the identification of Tan Sri Cecil Abraham and his son Sunil as the possible culprits due to a strange series of coincidences, which in themselves are indeed unfortunate.

I wish to place on record that I find these allegations extremely surprising as I know Cecil personally. He is a barrister of the highest integrity with at least 40 years of impeccable service to the Malaysian Bar and is held in high esteem by all those who have had the privilege of making his acquaintance, both personally and professionally.

It is therefore unthinkable that someone who possesses such an ingrained sense of dignity, integrity and professionalism and who has dedicated over 40 years of his life in upholding all that is sacrosanct to the honour of being a member of an historically noble profession, would in any way so blatantly compromise those ideals by partaking in something as undignified and as irresponsible as knowingly formulating a false statement to be sworn by someone he had never met, under circumstances of obvious duress and coercion, knowing at all times that I was representing Bala.

I recall that last year the Bar Council had also dismissed the notion of Cecil Abraham being the lawyer who drafted the 2nd SD.

Cecil Abraham

But today, FMT reported in its ‘Najib instructed Cecil to draft Bala’s SD2′ that Americk Singh told the Malaysian Bar during its annual general meeting PM Najib had instructed Cecil Abraham to prepare the 2nd SD for Bala.

Americk Singh revealed that Cecil Abraham told him so. I like to know when Cecil told him. Updated FMT article stated:

Americk said he met Abraham at a restaurant near his office at Jalan Ampang two weeks ago. He claimed that in the 30-minute conversation, Abraham apologised to him over the drafting of SD2 and admitted that it was done on the instruction of Najib.

Of course, PKR vice president R Sivarasa also of the “historically noble profession” as Americk Singh Sidhu and known as The missing man in the Altantuyaa story tweeted: “Americk Singh Sidhu, PI Bala’s lawyer reveals in Bar AGM that Cecil Abraham told him he did the 2nd SD on instructions from PM Najib.”

Nice!

By now, I wonder about Americk Singh's 'revelation' of Abraham Cecil as the author of the 2nd SD, given that less than 3 months ago he effusively enthused about Cecil Abraham as a barrister of the highest integrity with at least 40 years of impeccable service to the Malaysian Bar and is held in high esteem by all those who have had the privilege of making his acquaintance, both personally and professionally ... etc etc etc.

But this is not the first time Americk Singh Sidhu has confused me somewhat.

On 26 Nov 2009, we read Malaysiakini's PI's lawyer: 'Anwar not behind Bala tapes' which I commented on that same day in my post Bala's SD - Americk Sidhu clears Anwar Ibrahim from involvement how 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.”

Thus I was somewhat puzzled that despite having no communication with Anwar or any PKR member whatsoever (except of course for an encounter with Sivarasa Rasiah at ‘The Backyard’ pub) Americk Singh 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 commented that I was 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” - indeed wakakaka.

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

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

In other words, I was and 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.

But strangely Americk Singh was able to assure us Anwar Ibrahim had nothing to do Bala’s 1^st SD.

I could go on and on about the confusion I obtained from reading Americk Singh’s various release of information including his claim to be neutral and yet authoring a piece for Malaysiakini claiming and virtually damming Najib (as) 'linked' to Bala's disappearance.

Anyway, hearkening back to RPK's The Deepak-Bala marriage: in Deepak’s own words we have already learned from that article (an early unauthorised version of what Deepak told MACC) that:

Deepak spoke to Bala on the phone number given by Suresh and asked him if he was prepared to tell the truth of about SD conspiracy, which was now being exploited as a political asset by Najib’s competitors.

However, Bala was reluctant to do so as he said he didn’t want to trust any politicians as DSAI had cheated him on the amount of money promised and at the same time he was worried that Najib’s people were going to get him arrested again like during the Razak Baginda case. Deepak told Bala don’t worry because if he was willing to tell the truth he will be protected and will not be harassed by the police. He can get this assurance.

After a long chat, Bala was still unconvinced and told Deepak he will call back later. Deepak then called Rosmah and reported the entire conversation to her. She then told Deepak to come to the Putrajaya house and meet her husband to explain all the matters. Deepak went to Putrajaya, Sri Satria, and met Najib and Rosmah on the first floor lounge and detailed his conversation with Bala. Najib asked Deepak to convey to Bala that it was important that he speak the truth and tell about RM700,000 promise by DSAI.

DSAI 

The reason DSAI had asked Bala to make the SD was because to stop Najib from taking over PM post from Pak Lah and DSAI informed Bala that he needed Najib and Rosmah to be directly implicated. The timing was perfect and DSAI wanted this whole thing to implicate Najib and Rosmah to prevent him from becoming PM and thus allowing him to succeed with his September 16th plan to get the MPs in Sabah to defect so that he could become PM as they were demoralised at that time under PM Badawi’s administration.

Deepak met Bala in Rawang at about 9pm and they had a long discussion about the entire affair involving the SD and his experience during the time he was employed by Razak Baginda. The next day Bala signed his second SD to contradict the first SD that he had signed.

Thus the only thing new Americk has now attempted to tell us is that his good friend Cecil Abraham, who he held in such esteem ...

... as a barrister of the highest integrity with at least 40 years of impeccable service to the Malaysian Bar,s held in high esteem by all those who have had the privilege of making his acquaintance, both personally and professionally, who possesses such an ingrained sense of dignity, integrity and professionalism ...

... who has dedicated over 40 years of his life in upholding all that is sacrosanct to the honour of being a member of an historically noble profession, would in any way so blatantly compromise those ideals by partaking in something as undignified and as irresponsible as knowingly formulating a false statement to be sworn by someone he had never met, under circumstances of obvious duress and coercion...

... is allegedly the person who drafted the 2nd SD

Americk Singh also has a noticeable penchant for clearing people from any suspicions of doing this or that, as he previously did for Cecil Abraham, and of course for Anwar Ibrahim.

I'm too confused. You can now go work out whatever you want to.

Private Investigator P Balasubramaniam 

Prior to Bala's sudden demise, I had penned a post in relation to Americk's letter released to Malaysiakini and RPK, his version of how events related to the 1st SD transpired. I deleted that drafted post out of respect for the late Bala, and now regret not keeping it because I had punched several holes in Americk's story.

Be that as it may, Americk Singh by his confusing statements then and now about Cecil Abraham and the 2nd SD (by Bala) leaves much to be desired. But I don't believe there's anything worthwhile to comment further on or about Americk Singh.