ONLY A REAL MURDERER WOULD NOT PROBE NEW LEADS: It's not hearsay - Al Jazeera tells Najib, IGP

KUALA LUMPUR — Al Jazeera reporter Mary Ann Jolley has urged Malaysian police to investigate fresh evidence that she had reported in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case amid a probe against her.

The Australian journalist pointed out that the text messages sent by former police commando Sirul Azhar Umar – who was convicted together with another ex-police commando of killing the young Mongolian woman – to a man named Abdul Salam Ahmad on January 17 this year, in which he had asked for millions of dollars to “remain in Australia and not bring down the PM”, was not hearsay.

The first-hand account of a conversation between Sirul and his relative, in which Sirul alleged that Altantuya’s ex-lover Razak Baginda had shot her, was not hearsay either, Jolley insisted.

“Al Jazeera is happy to co-operate with any police investigation and would urge authorities to look into the fresh evidence that came to light while filming ‘Murder in Malaysia’,” Jolley told Malay Mail Online in an email interview, referring to her documentary on the Altantuya murder.

“The film follows the facts of the case and ample opportunity was given to all those mentioned in the film to participate and respond to allegations,” added the freelance reporter who hosted the episode for Al Jazeera’s “101 East” programme.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said on Monday that the police are investigating Al Jazeera under Section 505B of the Penal Code that prohibits the publishing of statements, rumours or reports that could cause public fear or alarm.

He accused the Doha-based news organisation of basing their “Murder in Malaysia” documentary on hearsay and of trying to “plant new evidence”.

Sirul and former police commando Azilah Hadri were both sentenced to death in January this year for the 2006 murder of Altantuya when the Federal Court reversed their previous acquittal, but Sirul fled to Australia after he was acquitted in 2013.

Razak, who was Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s then-aide when the latter was deputy prime minister, was acquitted of abetment in Altantuya’s murder without his defence being called.

Jolley told Malay Mail Online that Al-Jazeera could not “ignore the new evidence that is worthy of further investigation”.

The journalist, who has reported from countries such as North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Libya, also said the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection has rejected her many requests to visit Sirul in Sydney’s Villawood detention centre.

“I was told by guards at the detention centre that it’s highly unusual for visitors not to be given permission to see inmates, but that Sirul’s case was extremely sensitive,” said Jolley. - Malay Mail