Altantuya case: Judge yet to file judgment

Minister Nazri Aziz explains to Parliament the delay in the appeal of the two cops convicted for murder.

KUALA LUMPUR: The appeal of the two policemen convicted in the murder of Altantuya Sharriibuu is delayed by the High Court judge’s need for more time to complete his judgment, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

“Given that the judgment has not been filed, the appeal record is not complete,” Minister in the Prime Minister Department Mohd Nazri Aziz said in a written reply dated June 23 to Karpal Singh (DAP-Batu Gelugor).

“Hence,” he added, “the date for trial with the Court of Appeal cannot be determined as yet.”

He said the large amounts of statement notes and evidences presented in the trial prevented the judge from filing his judgment more speedily.

Chief inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar were sentenced to hang when the High Court found them guilty of murdering the 28-year-old Mongolian mother of two in Mukim Bukit Raja near here 10pm on Oct 19, 2006 and 1am the following day.

They were tried with political analyst Abdul Razak Abdullah Baginda, who was charged with abetting in the murder but was acquitted and discharged without his defence being called on Oct 31, 2008.

Azilah and Sirul were convicted in April 9, 2009. They filed for appeal in the same month

Abdul Razak, known to be close to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, admitted in court that he had a romantic affair with Altantuya, who was allegedly shot before her body was blown up with C4 explosives.

French investigation

Opposition leaders have said Najib might also have had an affair with Altantuya and that there was a connection between her murder and the controversial multi-billion ringgit Scorpene submarine deal between the Malaysian government and French arms manufacturer DCNS.

French prosecutors are said to be in the final stages of preparing for a corruption trial which could see top Malaysian officials, including Najib, being asked to testify.

The Malaysian human rights group Suaram took the case to France in 2009 and its lawyers have expressed confidence that they have enough evidence to move into full trial.

Suaram’s case questions the alleged payment of €114 million (RM500 million) in commission to Perimekar Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of KS Ombak Laut Sdn Bhd, of which Abdul Razak’s wife is a principal shareholder.

It is believed that the case will more light on the Altantuya murder. Najib was the Defence Minister at the time of the Scorpene deal.

Opposition leaders have piled pressure on Najib and asked the premier to come clean on his travel destinations in 2002.

They said the onus was now on Najib to prove his innocence in the RM6.7billion submarine deal following an allegation of a “third person” in the negotiation that took place in Macau.

It is alleged that Altantuya was an interpreter in the deal.