Sirul considering to ‘tell all’ on Altantuya’s murder, says report

One of the two men convicted for Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder, Sirul Azhar Umar is contemplating to do an interview with Australian media. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 17, 2015.

Former police commando Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, who was sentenced to death for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, is contemplating to reveal the reason that led to the gruesome murder nine years ago.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Sirul, who currently detained in Australia, after fleeing the death sentence in Malaysia, said other media organisations were also asking him to "tell all" on the case.

"I haven't decided (on whether) to do the interview," he was quoted as saying.

He was, however, sure that he would reveal everything concerning the murder should he agree to do the interview.

"Yes, I am seriously considering the possibility," he told Malaysiakini.

The news portal reported that Sirul, who is being held at the Immigration and Border Protection Department facility in Sydney, was still negotiating terms with Australian TV stations.

Sirul, a one-time bodyguard of former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, was arrested in Queensland on January 20 following a red alert issued by Interpol.

Sirul and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri had their 2009 death sentence reinstated on January 13 for the murder of 28-year-old model in 2006.

However, Sirul was not present when the verdict was delivered and subsequent news report revealed that he had left for Australia last October.

The 43-year-old told Malaysiakini that he never knew Altantuya or even Abdul Razak Baginda – the political analyst and a known associate of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak – who was acquitted with abetting the Mongolian's murder.

"I was under orders. The important people with motive (to murder Altantuya) are still free.

"It is not like I do not love the police (force) or the country, but I acted under orders," he was reported as saying, adding that he was allowed to have access to a mobile phone and the Internet while in detention.

The divorced Sirul also expressed worry about his teenage children, who have had to stop schooling because of his conviction.

A five-man Federal Court bench led by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria sentenced the men to be hanged, overturning a 2013 Court of Appeal ruling over the killing of Altantuya, who was Razak's lover.

Despite the conviction, the motive for the murder of Altantuya was never revealed.

Lawyers and politicians have raised the issue of motive, which was not revealed in court, but Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said there was nothing more to say on the case as the court had made its decision.

Evidence in court revealed that Altantuya, also a Mongolian translator, was murdered before her body was blown up by C4 explosives on October 18, 2006, in the outskirts of Shah Alam, near the capital city Kuala Lumpur.

Australia had signed an extradition treaty with Malaysia in 2006 but is unlikely to deport Sirul because he faces the death penalty in Malaysia.

- TMI