Altantuya's dad denies being paid to shut up

Setev Shaariibuu, the father of murdered Mongolian national Altantuya,  has denied talk that he had been paid to shut up.

"I deny this. I did not take even a single ringgit from the Malaysian government," he said through an interpreter, at a press conference in Parliament House today.

Setev said that he was made aware of the accusations against him from a posting on video-sharing site Youtube.

The rumour began to circulate shortly after political consultant Abdul Razak Baginda was acquitted of all charges in connection with the murder.

The trial established that Altantuya had been shot dead and then blown up with military-grade explosives by two Malaysian Special Action Unit officers in 2006.

Setev explained that he is currently in Malaysia to seek closure of his daughter's death, as many questions remain unanswered despite the fact that the two police personnel have been found guilty of murder.
               
"You know me. This is the second time I am here. Why am I here? I have travelled the world seeking justice,” he said, adding that he is also representing Atantya’s children’s interests.

‘Still no answers’

He said that he knows that Malaysians in general are not responsible for what happened, but lamented that the government has done nothing for the last six years to help end his search.

Although the Mongolian government has issued several diplomatic notes to Malaysia, “there have been no answers”.

“I don't understand how there has been no response to official communiques between two sovereign nations," he said.

"I want (the government and Malaysians) to solve this case as soon as possible. I want to take my girl home, to bury her in her own country."

Asked what else he might do to fight his case, he said that he may try to meet with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak again.

"Najib ran away when I wanted to meet him last time. I want to meet him again, not as a minister but as a father and a man," said Setev.

Setev had filed a civil suit for RM100 million against the Malaysian government in relation to his daughter's death.  He lost the case and was ordered to pay costs, but is appealing the decision.