Private eye P Balasubramaniam’s widow A Santamil Selvi has broken her silence and contacted Bala’s lawyer Americk Sidhu to inform him that she “needs time”.

Americk told Malaysiakini that Selvi contacted him today and said that she was “stressed out” after events that transpired during Bala’s 16th day prayers last Saturday.

Though her whereabouts are still unknown, Selvi told Americk that she needed to “get away” after a SMS was circulated on Saturday claiming she would make a police report alleging that her husband was paid by his lawyers to make his first statutory declaration (SD1).

NONEOn Saturday, after the SMS was circulated, reporters and police officers converged in front of Bala’s house to take down Selvi’s “report”.

Although she had told them off, a couple of reporters returned the very next day claiming that they have been informed by their editors that Selvi wanted to make a statement.

Americk had earlier said that he fears Selvi could retract her husband’s SD1 in a similar way to what Bala had done in 2008.

The reasons for her disappearance are still unknown, with Americk seeking to meet her and her children as soon as possible to clarify matters.

Checks by Malaysiakini at Bala’s family home in Rawang earlier today revealed that Selvi’s younger sister is currently housesitting for Selvi.

She is also taking care of the family dog in the meantime until Selvi returns home. The family car is parked in the house compound.

The sister said Selvi was spending her days with her children at a relative’s house and would not entertaining any call.

Bala’s neighbours remained oblivious to the exact details of the family’s whereabouts.