Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda had a 'relationship' with slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu and gave her US$10,000 (RM35,000) on several occasions, the Shah Alam High Court was told today.

Abdul Razak, 46, had met with the 28-year-old woman, whom he called Aminah, at the end of 2004 and middle of 2005 in various places - Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, France and Kuala Lumpur.

This information was contained in the witness statement recorded from the analyst on Oct 31 last year and submitted to the court by his lawyer Wong Kian Kheong.

Wong also submitted a sworn affidavit by his client to support his application for bail, which was later denied by the court.

According to Bernama, the lawyer had submitted the documents to show that there is no reason to believe that Abdul Razak is guilty and therefore should be granted bail.

The analyst, who is known to have close ties with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, is charged with abetting two policemen from the Special Action Unit in Altantuya's murder.

He is alleged to have committed the offence at Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur between 9.54am and 11.05am on Oct 18. If found guilty, he faces the death penalty.

Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 30, and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 35, are charged with murdering Altantuya in Mukim Bukit Raja, Selangor between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20.

The trial will commence in March next year.

'Having affair'

Quizzed by High Court judge KN Segara on the nature of the relationship between Abdul Razak and Altantuya, Wong replied: "Having affair..."

The judge then intervened and told Wong that he need not elaborate as this was only a bail application hearing and not the murder trial itself.

According to the lawyer, at the end of 2005, Abdul Razak stopped giving money to Altantuya and made a police report on Oct 23 last year because he could no longer tolerate her repeated "harassment".

He said when Abdul Razak first met Altantuya, the analyst was told that she was a student looking for 'side income'.

Wong said based on the witness statement, Abdul Razak was introduced to the deceased in 2004 and was told that she was of Korean and Chinese parentage.

Altantuya had also allegedly told the analyst her financial problems and that she needed help. Abdul Razak then gave her money a number of times but a year ago realised she had lied to him about her plight.

"In a desperate situation, Abdul Razak succumbed to the woman's threats and gave her the money," Wong said, adding that the payments lasted for three years.

This was despite that Altantuya had told Abdul Razak each time after she received money that it would be the last.

"In the end, Abdul Razak stopped giving," he added.

Don't harm her

Meanwhile, China Press reported that Abdul Razak said in his witness statement that he was "not so stupid" to kill Altantuya when he could have complained to the police and have her deported.

Abdul Razak said he confided in one DSP Musa - whom he had met during official functions - about the harassment and the latter said two policemen would help him.

He said the next day the first defendant, Azilah, had telephoned him and told him that he would help Abdul Razak solve his problem.

Abdul Razak added that he had told Azilah on two occasions not to harm Altantuya because her family would blame him for it.

The analyst also said he was also not "stupid" to tell the police to kidnap her from outside his house as alleged.

On Oct 19, Abdul Razak said he was told by a private investigator that Altantuya had gone to his house in Bukit Damansara but nobody was at home.

Following this, the analyst said he called Azilah for help but told him not to harm her. After that, the private investigator told Abdul Razak that Altantuya was forcibly taken away in a car by three people outside his house.

Abdul Razak then telephoned DSP Musa but the latter "did not reply".

A few days later, Abdul Razak said he met DSP Musa at a Najib function and enquired about the matter but he did not get a reply as well.