Cops to study new Altantuya leads

Deputy IGP: Panel may be set up to oversee probe into model’s murder

KUALA LUMPUR: The police may set up a committee to oversee fresh investigations into the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaaribu, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim.

“We want to see the grounds of the new allegations before we decide how to move forward,” he told a press conference after opening the 40th Ex-Police Association of Malaysia annual meeting yesterday.

While no past witnesses have been called in, Noor Rashid did not rule out such a possibility if the need arises.

“Of course, the previous investigating team will also be called in to assist the case,” he said.

One of them includes Deputy Supt Musa Safri, a former aide-decamp of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“We know where he is. I understand that he is still in the country,” he said.

On June 20, Altantuya’s father Dr Shaaribuu Setev lodged a police report seeking a fresh probe into the murder of his daughter.

The following day, InspectorGeneral of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun confirmed that investigations into the murder would be reopened.

Altantuya is believed to have been killed and her body blown up with explosives at a secondary jungle in Mukim Bukit Raja, Klang, between 10pm on Oct 19 and 1am on Oct 20, 2006.

In 2009, former police Special Action Unit members Sirul Azhar Umar and Azilah Hadri were found guilty of Altantuya’s murder.

The Court of Appeal overturned their sentences in 2013 but upon the prosecution’s appeal, the sentences were upheld by the Federal Court.

Sirul fled to Australia where he was detained by Australian Immigration at a detention centre in Sydney after Interpol issued a red notice on him.

He has been at the detention centre since 2015 and is hoping to get asylum there.

We want to see the grounds of the new allegations before we decide how to move forward. Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim