Fugitive ex-commando Sirul Azhar Umar has reportedly made an appeal to Australian authorities not to reject his application for a protection visa, as he would be executed if he is deported to Malaysia.
According to daily The Australian, Sirul's lawyers made the appeal after the Department of Immigration and Border Protection said it would likely reject the visa application as the former policeman had committed a “serious non-political crime” before entering Australia.
The report said Sirul's lawyers had until Monday to provide evidence to support his claims that he was being made a political scapegoat.Sirul fled to Australia shortly before the Federal Court overturned his acquittal for the killing of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, and reinstated a previous death sentence.
Sirul had been accused of committing the crime in 2006 together with fellow police personnel Azilah Hadri - both of whom were part of then deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's security detail.
If Sirul's application for a visa is denied, he may face indefinite detention in Australia, as the country does not extradite fugitives facing a death sentence.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said last month that Putrajaya has yet to formulate a plan to extradite Sirul, as it does not have any room to negotiate with the Australian authorities as Sirul's death sentence cannot be lifted. - Mkini
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