Suaram calls for RCI on Altantuya’s murder

‘Committee must be independent, respected’

PETALING JAYA: Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) has called for the urgent establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, with terms of reference that include the motives for her murder and her links to the Scorpene submarines deal.

The human rights group said members of the committee must be independent and respected members of the judiciary, and the community.

“Suaram will not rest until justice has been done in the murder of Altantuya. We believe that her murder is linked to the millions of ringgit in commissions associated with the RM7 billion Scorpene submarines deal in 2002,” Suaram adviser Kua Kia Soong said in a statement yesterday.

He pointed out that the RCI should report and recommend steps to be taken to bring the guilty parties to stand trial so justice will be finally served for Altantuya.

“There were too many inconsistencies in the Altantuya case which warrant truthful answers, for example, is it true that all records of Altantuya’s entry and presence in Malaysia were erased from the computers of the Immigration Department?

“Among the ‘strange’ twists was the sudden removal of the presiding judge before the trial started, without a plausible explanation given to the lawyers, not to mention, the head of the prosecution team was changed at the eleventh hour.

“Finally, defence lawyers for the three accused kept changing, with one walking out on the first day of the hearing, charging that ‘third parties’ were interfering in his work.

“It is high time the Altantuya murder case and the Scorpene submarines scandal be reopened because there were too many unanswered questions and peculiarities during the trial that demand answers,” added Kua.

In 2002, Najib oversaw the purchase of two Scorpene submarines and one Agosta submarine from French naval dockyard DCN International, worth nearly €1 billion (RM4.7 billion).

The submarines, named KD Tunku Abdul Rahman and KD Tun Razak, were meant to boost the Royal Malaysian Navy’s defence.

However, there have been allegations of suspected kickbacks linked to the deal.

Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of Najib, brokered the deal.

Altantuya was reportedly said to have demanded a cut as a translater at the negotiations.

She was shot dead and her body blown up with military-grade plastic explosives in 2006. The case went off the radar after the court in 2008 cleared Razak Baginda of abetting the murder.