Sirul ready to reveal all in Altantuya case if pardoned
KUALA LUMPUR: Former policeman Sirul Azhar Umar said he is willing to reveal what really happened in the Altantuya Shariibuu murder case if he is given a full pardon to come back to Malaysia.
Sirul was one of two people convicted of murdering Mongolian model Altantuya Shariibuu.
He told Malaysiakini in an interview on Saturday that he is willing to assist the new Pakatan Harapan government to reveal what took place in the case.
He said that this is a condition for his release, as he feels that many people now see him as a political detainee.
“That case is my only (alleged) crime, as I do not have any criminal record prior to that. Hence, I am willing to assist the new government to tell what actually transpired provided that the government grants me (a) full pardon,” said Sirul who is currently detained at an immigration detention centre in Sydney, Australia.
“I had previously served under Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim, and I would also like to use this opportunity to congratulate them on their victory in the polls and thank Anwar for calling for a fresh trial,” he added.
Sirul, 45, had also “expressed his displeasure” over how the murder trial took place, adding he had followed his lawyers’ instructions.
He also said that the “main witness” was not called during the trial and hoped the case would be heard again.
Sirul added that he had instructed his lawyers to file a review after the Federal Court handed down its decision, but claimed that it has not been done till now.
In 2009, Sirul and accomplice Azilah Hadri were convicted of murdering Altantuya, a Mongolian model, and were sentenced to death. Altantuya was murdered in 2006.
The Court of Appeal overturned the sentence in 2013. But upon the prosecution’s appeal, the Federal Court upheld their death sentences.
Sirul however had fled to Australia but he was detained by the Australian Immigration after Interpol issued a red notice and has been at the detention centre since 2015.
One of the mysteries of the case is that the court did not establish a motive: why did Sirul commit the murder?
On Feb 3, 2009 a tearful Sirul asked the Kuala Lumpur High Court not to sentence him to death for Altantuya’s murder, saying he was like “a black sheep that has to be sacrificed” to protect unnamed people who have never been brought to court or faced questioning.
“I have no reason to cause hurt, what more to take the life of the victim in such a cruel manner, I appeal to the court, which has the powers to determine if I live or die, not to sentence me so as to fulfil others’ plans for me,” he appealed to the court.