‘Altantuya’s dad to meet Dr Mahathir’
GEORGE TOWN: Ramkarpal Singh, the lawyer representing the father of murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, will arrange for a meeting between him and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Ramkarpal said he was arranging the journey of Shaariibuu Setev to Malaysia, who was expected to arrive within a week or two.
“The decision by the Australian government to extradite Sirul Azhar Umar (who was convicted of killing Altantuya) is a positive development. The extradition is the first step for re-investigation.
“We know who killed her (Altantuya). She was murdered by Sirul and Azilah Hadri (a former Special Action Unit personnel)... but we don’t know who directed the killing. This issue needs to be raised or disclosed now.”
He said he would request for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the motive behind Altantuya’s murder.
He urged Attorney-General Tommy Thomas to consider reopening the case. British daily The Guardian reported that the Australian authorities had approved Malaysia’s request to extradite Sirul and he was expected to return to the country within a month.
Citing sources, the report said the former police officer, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Altantuya in 2009, would leave Australia after Malaysia agreed to cover the costs.
However, Dr Mahathir, on Friday, denied that Malaysia had made an extradition request to Australia for Sirul.
However, he said that in order for Sirul to return, his death sentence would have to be commuted to a life sentence.
On Aug 23, 2013, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by Azilah and Sirul, and acquitted them of the charge.
However, on Jan 13, 2015, the Federal Court allowed the prosecution’s appeal and set aside the Court of Appeal’s decision. It found Sirul and Azilah guilty, and sentenced them to death.
Sirul then fled to Australia where he was detained by Australian Immigration after Interpol issued a red notice on him.