‘Top cops, Datuks blocking murder probe’

KUALA LUMPUR: Last November, senior lawyer G Balasundram was brutally murdered in Ipoh after being stabbed 17 times.Despite the police arresting several individuals in connection with the murder of the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) lawyer, none of them had been charged in court.

PSM believes that the suspects are linked to several influential figures, and this was the reason for the lack of action.This afternoon, the party’s leaders submitted a memorandum to the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters calling for the probe to be expedited.

Contacted later, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan said the investigation was being hampered by several high-ranking police officers and Datuks.“Those arrested have links with these people and we are convinced that they are the ones blocking the investigation into the murder,” he added.

Asked if these Datuks were politicians or if there were any political links, Arutchelvan replied: “We have decided not to mention names.”PSM also declined to reveal its memorandum to the public, saying that it contained the names of those suspected to be involved in the case.The delegation also held a 45-minute discussion with several senior police officers before handing over the document.

Speaking to reporters later, PSM leader and Sungai Siput MP Dr D Jayakumar also expressed dissatisfaction over the matter.“The mastermind of the murder has been identified, the murder weapon found and the motive behind the murder has been established. But why is there no prosecution? Is the police trying to cover up?” he asked.On a sarcastic note, PSM central committee member K Gunasegaran added: “We are not questioning the police force’s professionalism. We are just wondering why their professionalism takes a long time.”
Meanwhile, party chairperson Nasir Hashim said the party would ask the people of Perak to rise up and lodge police reports if no action was taken on the case.On Nov 16, Balasundram, 57, was returning home from work at 5pm when he was slashed repeatedly by two masked men armed with knives outside his house in Taman Desa Rishah, Buntong, Ipoh.

The police later arrested six suspects.The Malaysian Bar, which had expressed shock over the murder, said it was concerned that the incident, and another which occurred, four years ago, might be linked to Balasundram’s profession.

Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/01/25/top-cops-datuks-blocking-lawyers-murder-probe/