Political twist to murdered businessman saga

KUALALUMPUR : A deputy minister has been implicated in the case involving Indian millionaire A Muthuraja, whom the Malaysian police believe has been murdered. The political link was revealed by Muthuraja's brother Dr Kasi Viswanathan, who arrived in Malaysia yesterday.According to a local tamil daily, Kasi said his family had given RM90,000 to two people who claimed to know Muthuraja well when the latter was in Malaysia.Kasi, who runs a restaurant in Russia, said after his brother had gone missing on Jan 20, a person by the name of Ezhil Velavan called him (Kasi) and told him that Muthuraja had been arrested by the Malaysian police for drug trafficking.
However, Ezhil told Kasi that Muthuraja was not guilty but had been arrested at a club with a Nigerian drug dealer.Claiming to be close with several senior police officers, Ezhil then asked for RM80,000 to secure Muthuraja's release.“Two days later a 'police officer' from Malaysia by the name of Murugan called me and asked RM80,000 to free my brother,” said Kasi.“I was suspicious because he did not sound like a real policeman,” he added.Following this, Kasi said another “policeman”, who identified himself as “ASP Suresh”, called and asked for the same amount.“We decided to pay because we were concerned about my brother's safety,” he added.Kasi said when he had come to Malaysia in March, he was assisted by an Indian national known as Kannan, who had lived in Malaysia, for more than 15 years.Kannan, he added, claimed to be close to a deputy minister.

Meeting with Indian High Commission


Kasi and Kannan then met Ezhil at a restaurant in Klang and following negotiations, Ezhil agreed on RM50,000.After receiving the money, Ezhil took them to the Kajang and Putrajaya detention centres, but Muthuraja was not there.“I was upset and returned to India. After that March's visit, I could not contact Ezhil again,” he said.Kasi said Kannan then asked him to pay another RM40,000 to secure Muthuraja's release, promising to use his connections with the deputy minister.“We gave the money, but we don't know whether he (Kannan) gave the money to the politician,” he added.

Muthuraja is believed to have been murdered by the prime suspect involved in the brutal murders of millionaires Sosilawati Lawiya and three others.Kasi today visited the Indian High Commission here to find out more about his missing brother.

Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/barisan-nasional/10745-political-twist-to-murdered-businessman-saga