Altanshagai Munkhtulga was just four-years-old when his mother, Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, was murdered outside of Kuala Lumpur in 2006.
Now 12 years later, Altanshagai, who is disabled and unable to walk after an illness in his infancy, is still in the dark over his mother’s death.
His grandfather, Setev Shaariibuu, has spent the last 12 years telling him that she is still alive.
“For the last 12 years, I have been buying candies for him, saying its from her,” Setev said through a translator during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Altanshagai’s older brother Mungunshagai Bayarjargal, 21, however, does know about the brutal murder.
Setev described Mungunshagai as a sombre individual at home.
“He is very silent at home. He doesn’t talk much. He’ll leave home early and come back late,” Setev said.
The elder of Altantuya’s two sons, however, has taken an interest in film-making, and Setev said that he makes movies and writes scripts to help support the family.
Altantuya, 28, was shot dead and her body blown up with military-grade plastic explosives outside Kuala Lumpur in October 2006.
Setev (below) said she should instead be at home living a happy life with her children.
“Their destiny should be like that. Unfortunately, my daughter had become the victim of politicians,” he said sadly.
Death sentences
Setev said his daughter’s death was akin to losing his “right-hand man” as she was the main breadwinner for the family.
Altantuya’s murder has been linked to former premier Najib Abdul Razak with rumours saying that she was his lover.
Najib has consistently denied knowing Altantuya. The former prime minister’s close confidant Razak Baginda, however, said he did have an affair with the Mongolian
Former police commandos Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar were convicted of her murder in 2009 and sentenced to hang even though it wasn’t established what their motive was or if they had a motive.
They were later released when an appeals court in 2013 overturned the conviction ruling the High Court judge had erred.
The Federal Court, however, upheld their death sentences in 2015. Sirul fled Australia ahead of that ruling while Azilah is currently on death row.
The Shaariibuu family is suing Azilah, Sirul, Razak, and the government for RM100 million in damages over Altantuya’s death. – MKINI
KUALA LUMPUR: After 12 years of perseverance, Dr Setev Shaariibuu (pic) says he hopes to seek justice and closure over the death of his daughter Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian model who was murdered in 2006.
“I have suffered a lot for the past 12 years. My life has been ruined as if it’s just been destroyed by a tsunami,” he said through a translator at a press conference on Tuesday (June 19).
He said that he did not receive justice previously and claimed that the previous government did everything to prevent the truth from emerging.
When asked about his meeting with Dr Mahathir, he said that he understood the Prime Minister was paying attention to the case.
“I never thought this chance would come that the Prime Minister would receive me,” said Dr Setev, adding that he was interested to know who ordered the killing of his daughter.
“We are at the starting line now and we will see what will happen,” he added.
Dr Setev is now taking care of his daughter’s two sons – aged 14 and 20.
When asked on rumours that he was paid money by a prominent politician to close the case, he denied it.
“I have heard this kind of rumour but it’s not true,” he said.
Dr Setev will be meeting with the Prime Minister on Wednesday (June 20).
The family’s lawyer, Ramkarpal Singh confirmed that Dr Setev Shaariibuu would meet Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at 5pm in Putrajaya.
Dr Setev would be meeting Attorney General Tommy Thomas at 3pm Tuesday (June 19) on the possibility of reopening the case.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun had said last month that the police had not found any grounds to reopen investigations into the case.
Altantuya, 28, is believed to have been shot dead before her body was blown to bits with explosives at a secondary forest near the Subang Dam in Puncak Alam, Shah Alam in 2006.
In 2009, Sirul Azhar Umar and accomplice Azilah Hadri were convicted of murdering Altantuya and were sentenced to death.
The Court of Appeal overturned their sentences in 2013 but upon the prosecution’s appeal, the sentences were upheld by the Federal Court.
Sirul fled to Australia, where he was detained by the Australian Immigration after Interpol issued a red notice on him.
He has been at the detention centre since 2015, where he is hoping to get asylum. – ANN
MKINI / ANN
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.