Gov't's appeal against Altantuya suit fixed for Nov 12

The Federal Court has fixed Nov 12 to hear the government's leave to appeal with regard to it being reinstated as a defendant in the RM100 million suit filed by the family of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The date was fixed at the apex court registrar following case management before deputy registrar Wan Fatimah Zaharah Wan Yusof today.

Senior federal counsel Jasmee Hamzah appeared for the government while lawyer Rayveni Asogan represented the family.

On March 18, it was reported that the Court of Appeal had reinstated the government as a defendant in the suit after the High Court removed it. 

Justice Mohd Zawawi Mohd Salleh, who is now a Federal Court judge, had led a three-member panel which ruled there are triable issues warranting the reinstatement of the government in the suit.

This led to the government filing a motion of leave to appeal before the Federal Court.

As a result of the decision, former police personnel Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, who were convicted for the murder of Altantuya, and the government, were named as defendants in the suit.

The family is appealing the decision of the High Court in Shah Alam in August last year which allowed the government's striking-out application, citing there was no reasonable cause of action.

Setev Shaariibuu, who is Altantuya's father, and and the deceased two children, Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and Altanshagai Munkhtulga, filed the RM100 million suit in 2007.

Altantuya was murdered in October 2006 at a secluded forest in Puncak Alam, near Shah Alam. Azilah and Sirul were found guilty and sentenced to death by the Federal Court in 2015.

However, Sirul is now being detained at an immigration centre in Australia. - Mkini