Retrial for Altantuya's murder, urges NGO

NGO Jingga 13 has called for a retrial of the case involving the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was shot and killed before being blown up with C-4 explosives.

According to Jingga 13 chief coordinator Fariz Musa (left), this is necessary because the judge, who recently released his judgment - two years after the verdict - had deemed the murder motive as "not essential".

"To date, the people are asking who had ordered two Special Action Unit (UTK) officers, chief inspector Azilah Hadri and corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, to kill and blow up Altantuya with C-4," said Fariz.

Fariz added that the real culprit who ordered the killing is still free while the two officers, who have been sentenced to die, are being made scapegoats.

"We are confident that there are hidden hands which have influenced the trial with Azilah and Sirul Azhar being made to take the fall for the instruction to kill Altantuya," he said.

Appeal to be in August

Also implicated in the murder was political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda (right) who, according to the judgment, had several telephone conversations with Azilah on the night of the murder.

However, Abdul Razak, a close confidant to then deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, wasacquitted by the Shah Alam High Court after finding that vital elements of abetment to murder was not established.

The two officers, who are facing a death sentence, have appealed their case, which will be heard at the Court of Appeal on Aug 27 to 28.