SHAH ALAM – The eldest son of murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu says he had to change his name due to the negative publicity arising from his mother’s death – besides being picked on at school.
Bayarkhuu Bayarjargal (pic), 21, who had his name changed from Mungunshagai Bayarjargal, told a civil suit hearing at the High Court here Wednesday (Jan 30) that he was nine years old when Altantuya died.
When asked by counsel Sangeet Kaur Deo, representing Altantuya’s family, on how he felt upon learning of her death, Bayarkhuu said he was shocked and felt very sad.
“I was asking myself why was I so unlucky to lose my mother. I got even angrier and hurt when I knew that she was murdered in Malaysia and despised the people who were responsible for her death,” he said.
He said this at the hearing of the RM100mil suit filed by his family against two former policemen Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda and the Malaysian government.
Bayarkhuu said for the first three years or so, he spent the summer months living with relatives in the countryside to escape the gossip over his mother’s murder in 2006.
“It was very painful and sad years growing up as I remember clearly listening to my friends’ parents telling them not to play with me just because my mother was murdered in Malaysia,” he said.
Bayarkhuu said he was told that his mother had passed away by his grandmother and, after sometime, got to know more of the details through the news and people around him talking about it, and via the Internet as he grew older.
He said his relationship with a girl was also adversely affected when the fact that he was Altantuya’s son emerged.
Asked to describe his mother, Bayarkhuu recalled that she was a loving and adventurous woman who would often take him and others to the movies, picnics and playgrounds.
Sangeet Kaur: Who supported you and your brother’s education and medical expenses after your mother’s passing?
Bayarkhuu: My grandfather had to continue to work to pay for our expenses including the household expenses whereas my grandmother stayed at home to look after my younger brother.
Bayarkhuu: My grandfather had to continue to work to pay for our expenses including the household expenses whereas my grandmother stayed at home to look after my younger brother.
Sangeet Kaur: Did you work to lessen the financial burden on your grandparents?
Bayarkhuu: Yes, I did some odd jobs occasionally to support them during my school holidays, I also sold things such as CDs and DVDs on the street.
Meanwhile, a cousin of Altantuya, Namiraa Gerelmaa, 35, testified that Altantuya was hired by Abdul Razak for translation services related to the purchase of two military submarines.
She claimed that Altantuya had told her that Abdul Razak had wanted to have a baby with her and that he had introduced Altantuya to his lawyer in Malaysia as his ‘wife’.
Altantuya’s father Dr Shaariibuu Setev and wife Altantsetseg Sanjaa and their two grandsons – Mungunshagai Bayarjargal and Altanshagai Munkhtulga – filed the suit on June 4, 2007.
However, Altanshagai Munkhtulga’s name was later removed as a plaintiff following his death two years ago.
In the statement of claim, the family alleged that Altantuya’s death had caused them mental shock and psychological trauma, entitling them to be compensated with exemplary and aggravated damages.
The hearing before Judge Datuk Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera continues on Thursday.
– Bernama
Altantuya’s son tells court of ‘lonely, painful, sad’ childhood after her murder
“It was very hurtful when people around me were always talking about her murder in Malaysia, especially in Ulaanbaatar, where the community is small and everyone knows each other. It was totally unbearable for me as a young child.
“For the first three years or so, I had to spend my three summer vacations living with relatives in the countryside just to escape the gossip over my mother’s murder in Malaysia.
“It was a very lonely, painful and sad time growing up as I remember clearly listening to my friends’ parents telling their children not to play with me just because my mother was murdered in Malaysia,” he said.
Mungunshagai said he had to change his name to Bayarkhuu Bayarjargal later in life to escape the negative stigma surrounding his mother’s death.
“In 2011 or 2012, I changed my name. l had to change my name due to the negative attention that I received after my mother’s death.
“After her death and as a result of all the negative publicity from that, I was often bullied and teased in school. After years of enduring this, my grandfather and I discussed it and we decided it would be best for me to change my name,” he said, referring to Shariibuu Setev.
Mungunshagai also revealed that he was forced to break up with his girlfriend of three years after her family discovered that he was Altantuya’s son.
Despite it all, Mungunshagai remembered Altantuya as a loving mother who cared for him and his younger brother, Altanshagai Munkhtulga.
“She was very loving and adventurous. She would always take us out and play with us when she’s around. My fondest memories are of the times that we spent together.
“She often took us out to the movies, for picnics and to playgrounds. This is something that my grandparents cannot do for us due to their age, health and financial situation,” he said.
Last Monday, Shariibuu testified in court that the family had fallen apart without Altantuya and that the responsibilities to care for her youngest child, Altanshagai who suffered cerebral palsy fell on him and his wife.
Altantuya’s parents Shariibuu and Altantsetseg Sanjaa, and Altantuya’s two sons had on June 4, 2007 filed the civil lawsuit to claim compensation for the mental shock and psychological trauma they suffered over her death.
However, Altantuya’s younger son, 15-year-old Alatanshagai Munkhtukga, was removed as a plaintiff following his death in 2017.
In the lawsuit where Altantuya’s family is seeking RM100 million as compensation, Sirul Azhar Umar, Azilah Hadri, Abdul Razak and the government of Malaysia were named as defendants.
Sirul and Azilah were convicted by the High Court in 2009 of killing Altantuya. They succeeded in overturning their convictions at the Court of Appeal in 2013, but the Federal Court in 2015 restored their convictions and sentenced them to death.
Abdul Razak, who was accused of abetting the two former police officers in her murder, was acquitted.
Sirul fled to Australia after the death sentence was handed down and is currently in detention there as Australian laws do not allow the extradition of anyone to a country where he or she may be subjected to the death penalty.
Azilah is on death row here.
– Malay Mail
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