Sirul won’t return, says his lawyer

'He won't deal with anyone from Malaysia without his lawyers.'

SHAH ALAM: Fugitive Sirul Azhar Umar has told one of his lawyers he will not return to Malaysia for his hanging, according to Sinar Harian.

The Malay daily said it conducted an interview yesterday with lawyer Hasnal Rezua Merican, soon after he had seen his client, who is detained by Australian authorities, apparently for an immigration offence.

Speaking from Sydney, Hasnal said, “Sirul has said he won’t return. Anybody in his situation would not want to return.”

Sirul, along with fellow policeman Azilah Hadri, was sentenced to death last January 13 for the 2006 murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. Sirul was not in the Federal Court when the sentence was pronounced, having left for Australia last October.

Hasnal said he and Sirul did not discuss the question of extradition. “The issue of extradition has not arisen yet,” Sinar Harian quoted him as saying.

Malaysia is unlikely to be successful if it applies for Sirul’s extradition because Australia has abolished the death penalty.

Hasnal said he discussed with Sirul the question of how to free him from Australian detention, adding that he believed his client had not broken any Australian law. Sirul was arrested in Brisbane on January 21.

Hasnal also said Sirul told him he would not meet or deal with anyone from Malaysia except through his lawyers. His other lawyer is Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin.