The murder trial of slain Mongolian Altantuya Shaarriibuu took an interesting turn as the prosecution witness revealed today that political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda never ordered him to kill her.

Private investigator P Balasubramaniam, 47, hired by Razak to keep Altantuya away from him was being cross examined by Razak's counsel Wong Kian Kheong on the fourth day of the high-profile murder trial at the Shah Alam High Court.

Wong: Has Razak ever asked you to hurt anybody?
Balasubramaniam: (through a translator) No, he hasn't.

Wong: At any point in time and at any instance, has he asked you to do so?
Balasubramaniam: No, he has never asked me to hurt anybody.

Wong: Did he ask you to kill Altantuya?
Balasubramaniam: No, he never did (ask me to kill Altantuya).

Balasubramaniam also revealed that he was employed by Razak back in August last year when Wong asked him about it.

Wong: Do you agree that the first time which you offered private investigative services to Razak was in August 2006?
Balasubramaniam: Yes, I do.

Wong: Was the assignment to guard Razak's office (Bangunan Getah Asli in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur) for one week?
Balasubramaniam: Yes, it was.

Wong: Do you agree that both the assignments in August and October last year had the same primary objective that is to stop Altantuya from disturbing Razak?
Balasubramaniam: Yes, I agree.

No publicity

The former Special Branch officer had also agreed with Wong's statement that Razak and his family lawyer, Dhiren Rene Norendra did not want anything untoward to happen to Altantuya.

Balasubramaniam also affirmed that both of them had told him to wait till Altantuya's money runs out as she would then head back to Mongolia just like what happened in August.

He proceeded to confirm that Dhiren was present when Razak expressed that he did not want any publicity on this issue.

Balasubramaniam also said he knew Razak was going to Hong Kong on Oct 24 last year and his wife (Mazlinda Makhzan) and daughter (Rowena) were both leaving for London on Oct 25.

"Based on these facts, would you agree that there was no need for Razak to lodge a report?" Wong quizzed Balasubramaniam who answered in the affirmative.

[Previously Balasubramaniam testified that despite his advice twice to Razak to lodge a police report on Altantuya's harassment, the latter had not done so.]

Stored in computer

Earlier in the day, the witness admitted that Razak said he wanted this case to be kept confidential. He said all investigation findings are recorded into his home computer.

Information that the witness was remanded by the police twice surfaced yesterday during cross examination by Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar's counsel Kamarul Hisham.

Wong then prodded Balasubramaniam further whether he made statements about Altantuya's demands during those remand periods.

The witness said he could not remember thus prompting Wong to request permission from judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin to access those statements under Section 159 of the Evidence Act.

Mohd Zaki granted permission and adjourned the session for lunch.

The trial resumed shortly after 2pm.

Was he smiling?

In the afternoon session, Balasubramaniam was asked if his assistant had an affair with one of the Mongolian girls whom he was supposed to keep an eye on. Balasubramaniam rejected this.

Wong also repeatedly asked Balasubramaniam if Razak just smiled when asked which police station was holding Altantuya.

The witness has previously testified that the analyst had merely smiled, and said he (Razak) himself did not know which police station.

"I put it to you that Razak did not smile...." Wong countered during the cross-examination.

Balasubramaniam stuck to his testimony.

"He smiled and asked me to guess," he replied to Wong.

The high profile trial is expected to run for a month and to hear testimonies from 30 to 40 prosecution witnesses.