A DAP lawmaker has cautioned authorities against a repeat of the Sirul Azhar Umar episode, in which the police officer convicted of murdering Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu fled the country, as preparations are made for an inquest into the Durian Tunggal police shooting in Malacca.
Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng urged the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and police to immediately take lawful steps to prevent all officers who discharged their firearms or were directly involved in the Durian Tunggal operation from leaving Malaysia.
The families of the three men killed in the police operation at an oil palm plantation last November have claimed that they were victims of extrajudicial executions.
Lawyers representing the families claimed that the AGC’s directive to order an inquest would be an injustice, arguing that there was ample evidence showing the police had captured the men alive and executed them.
The lawyers also said the decision to refer the case to a coroner amounted to an abdication of duties and constitutional responsibility. They called on the attorney-general to either carry out his duty or resign.
In his statement, Lim said authorities should seek travel restrictions and court orders requiring the police officers to surrender their passports.
“Do not merely rely on assurances that they will cooperate with the investigation,” he added.
The Kepong MP emphasised that such measures did not mean the officers were guilty, but were necessary to ensure they remained within Malaysia’s jurisdiction until the inquest, investigations and any criminal proceedings were completed.
“Malaysia has previously failed to act swiftly in the case of Sirul. He left the country while the prosecution's appeal was still pending and was in Australia when the Federal Court convicted him of the murder of Altantuya.
“Do not allow another Sirul to escape overseas. Impose travel restrictions on them now,” he added.
Legal, diplomatic issues
Sirul and fellow former police commando Azilah Hadri were convicted of Altantuya’s murder by the Shah Alam High Court in 2009 and sentenced to death.
The Court of Appeal later acquitted them in 2013, but the Federal Court overturned that decision in 2015, reinstating their convictions and death sentences.
By the time the Federal Court delivered its verdict, Sirul had already left Malaysia. He travelled to Australia before the final ruling and was detained by Australian authorities in January 2015 after Malaysia sought his arrest through Interpol.
He was held at an immigration detention centre in Sydney while Malaysia pursued efforts to have him returned.
Sirul’s detention became a legal and diplomatic issue because Australian laws prevented his extradition to Malaysia while he faced a potential death sentence.
Sirul was eventually released from Australian immigration detention in 2022 after serving the maximum period allowed under Australian law. He remains in Australia. - Mkini
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