KUALA LUMPUR (July 4, 2008): Private investigator P.Balasubramaniam today retracted all allegations he had made in his July 1 statutory declaration about Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's alleged involvement with murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.

"I wish to retract the entire contents of my statutory declaration dated July 1, 2008. I was compelled to affirm the said statutory declaration under duress," he said in a new statutory declaration dated today.

Balasubramaniam was hired to track Altantuya's movements by former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda who is currently facing trial with abetting in her murder.

In a press conference with de-facto Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and a lawyer yesterday, Balasubramaniam revealed the explosive contents of his statutory declaration, linking Altantuya to Najib.

Today, speaking through lawyer M. Arulampalam, who accompanied him at a news conference, Balasubramaniam told reporters the statements contained in his previous statutory declaration were inaccurate and not the truth.

The new statutory declaration states:
"I wish to expressly state that at no material time did (Abdul) Razak (Abdullah) Baginda inform me that he was introduced to Altantuya Shaariibuu by a VIP and at no material time did Razak Baginda inform me that Datuk Seri Najib had a sexual relationship with Altantuya Shaariibuu and that she was susceptible to anal intercourse;

"At no material time did Razak Baginda inform me that Datuk Seri Najib instructed Razak Baginda to look after Altantuya Shaariibuu as he did not want her to harass him since he was the Deputy Prime Minister;

"At no material time did Razak Baginda and or Altantuya Shaariibuu inform me that Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, together with Razak Baginda and Altantuya Shaariibuu, had met and all been together at a dinner in Paris;

"At no material time did Altantuya Shaariibuu inform me that she wanted money in the sum of US$500,000 as a commission for a submarine deal she assisted with in Paris;

"At no time whatsoever did Razak Baginda and/or Altantuya Shaariibuu inform me that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak met with Altantuya Shaariibuu in Singapore;

"At no time whatsoever did Altantuya Shaariibuu inform me that she wanted me to arrange to see Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak;

" At no time did I tell the police during the course of their investigations about any relationship between Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak and Altantuya Shaariibuu as no such relationship existed to my knowledge. Accordingly, the statement I signed before the police is complete;

"At no time did Razak Baginda inform me that he had sent Datuk Seri Najib an SMS the evening before he was arrested; and

"At no time did Razak Baginda inform me that Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had sent him an SMS on the day of his arrest to the effect that he was going to see the IGP (Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan) that day and that the matter should be resolved and for Razak Baginda to remain calm."

Yesterday, Najib reiterated that he never knew Altantuya and referred to the claim linking him with the murdered Mongolian woman as "a terrible lie".

Najib described this latest attempt to connect him to the crime as a "malicious, slanderous fabrication aimed at tarnishing my image."

Meanwhile police will investigate both statutory declarations made by Balasubramaniam even though the private investigator had retracted the earlier one dated July 1.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said police would still be carrying out their investigations as there might be hidden motives involved.

"We will investigate both. The one (he distributed) yesterday and the retractions he made today," he said when contacted.