Tough to extradite Sirul if he engages lawyers, says deputy minister

Attempts to extradite convicted murderer Sirul Azhar Umar (pic) to Malaysia may be more complicated now that the ex-corporal could be engaging his own lawyers to represent him in Australia, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said.

The deputy minister said he was informed that lawyers in Australia were being prepared to represent the former bodyguard of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak if Malaysia were to go to court to have him extradited .

Sirul was found guilty of murdering Mongolian woman Altantuya  Shaariibuu in 2006 and sentenced to death together with police chief inspector Azilah Hadri by the Federal Court on January 13.

"I have heard that there are parties who have solicited the help of several lawyers to represent Sirul so that he will not be extradited to Malaysia to face the death sentence," Wan Junaidi told The Malaysian Insider.

He said that if this were to happen, representatives of the Malaysian government would have to attend court proceedings in Australia to attempt to bring Sirul back.

"If this were to happen, a hearing in the Australian courts would take place and it will be up to the decision of the court there," he said.

For now, Wan Junaidi said Putrajaya would wait for further developments before deciding on its next move.

"That is why we are quiet for now, because this is a matter that has to follow the process of international law."

Sirul, 43, was not present in court for sentencing and it was later confirmed that he had fled to Australia and was living in Brisbane. The Federal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest.

Australian media reported that he had been detained for immigration offenses. The Sydney Morning Herald said he may be held indefinitely in a detention centre in Sydney.

Malaysia is in a bind as Australian law does not allow the extradition of a criminal if the penalty faced is the death sentence.

Putrajaya had requested for his extradition but was rejected. Australia is among the countries that does not have provision for the death penalty in their laws.

Wan Junaidi was previously reported saying that Malaysia would attempt to bring Sirul to court in Australia if the country continued to keep him from extradition.

Yesterday, it was also reported that Sirul's Malaysian lawyers were now in Australia to secure his release from the immigration detention centre.

Sirul's lawyer Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin told an online news portal that his client would need to hire lawyers who were qualified to practice in Australia to represent him should his extradition matter go to court.

- TMI