Altantuya’s father to meet Dr Mahathir, says lawyer

GEORGE TOWN: Ramkarpal Singh, the lawyer representing the father of the murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, will arrange a meeting between him and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Ramkarpal said he was arranging the journey of Shaariibuu Setev to the country and that he 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 reinvestigation.

“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 told reporters here yesterday.

Ramkarpal said he would also request for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry ( RCI) to investigate the motive behind Altantuya’s murder.

Ramkarpal urged new Attorney- General Tommy Thomas to seriously consider reopening the investigation into Altantuya’s murder.

British daily The Guardian has reported that the Australian authorities had approved Malaysia’s request to extradite Sirul Azhar and he was expected to return to the country within a month.

Citing sources, the report said that 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.

On August 23, 2013, the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by Azilah and Sirul Azhar 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 Azhar and Azilah guilty and sentenced them to death by hanging.

Sirul then fled to Australia where he was detained by Australian Immigration after Interpol issued a red notice on him. — Bernama