Setev very upset, wants Mongolian gov't to intervene

Setev Shaariibuu, the father of murdered Mongolian national Altantuya, is very upset with the Court of Appeal’s aquittal of the two ex-policemen charged with her murder in October 2006.

Setev declined to issue a statement beyond saying, “It is time the government of Mongolia makes a statement about this result.”

It is learnt that Setev had expected the verdict and now feels he must take the case to a higher level, to get justice for his murdered daughter.

His immediate response was relayed to Malaysiakini via his Mongolian lawyer Munkhsaruul Mijiddorj.

Munkhsaruul said Setev planned to seek the assistance of the Mongolian government in the matter.

“He will make a statement after getting an official letter from the Malaysian court or from his Malaysian lawyer Karpal Singh,” she said.

“He is also awaiting further advice from Karpal, who is holding a watching brief in the case, on how to proceed,” she added.

Setev, who is in his 60s, has filed a RM100 million civil suit, which has been pending since 2007, against powerfully connected Abdul Razak Baginda, ex-policemen Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, and the government over the circumstances surrounding Altantuya’s death.

Abdul Razak, who was charged with abetting in Altantuya's murder in 2006, was acquitted in 2008 without his defence being called.

Setev filed the suit to seek financial compensation for the loss of Altantuya on behalf of his wife, and two grandchildren now aged 17 and 10.

The Court of Appeal today freed Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar - who were Special Action Unit officers and former bodyguards of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak - of the murder.

Karpal said the civil suit may have to wait until the outcome of the prosecution’s appeal over the acquittal in the Federal Court.