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©New Straits Times (Used by permission)

KUALA LUMPUR: The lawyer who appeared with private investigator P. Balasubramaniam when he made public his first statutory declaration has denied that he is linked with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

"I was never engaged by the PKR to be Balasubramaniam's counsel nor do I have any links with them," said Americk Singh Sidhu after lodging a report at the Brickfields police station here yesterday evening.

Americk said he and Balasubramaniam met by chance at a restaurant about two months ago.

"Nobody introduced us and it was during our conversation that the subject of the statutory declaration (SD) was brought up.

"Balasubramaniam later engaged me as his lawyer, which was when I documented his SD," he said.

The lawyer said it had never crossed his mind to charge Balasubramaniam a fee as he merely assisted the private investigator in preparing the SD.

"The question of opening a file did not arise because I was not representing Balasubramaniam in a court case."

He added in view of the recent developments, his task was not over.

On the police report he lodged yesterday, Americk said it was to clear his name and for the safety of his client.

The lawyer pointed out that when Balasubramaniam retracted his first SD, he had said that the sworn statement was made "under duress".

"The retraction amounts to criminal defamation of my character, both personally and professionally. It implied that I forced him to come out with the SD. I have to clear my name."

Americk said his report also called for police to conduct an investigation to ascertain who were the people who forced Balasubramaniam to file his first SD.

"I believe Balasubramaniam was coerced to come out with the retraction."

He added that he did not know lawyer M. Arulampalam who appeared with Balasubramaniam when the private investigator made public his retraction at a hotel here.

"As far as I know, I am still Balasubramaniam's counsel as he had not notified me of any change," said Americk, who was accompanied by counsel John Fam and Manjeet Singh Dillon.

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