Tuesday November 14, 2006
Confusion over which Altantuya was murdered
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When they heard that the victim was a model named Altantuya, they were quick to assume that she was Altantuya Honggul, better known as Toya, now based in Paris.
Davaadorj Bolormaa, 36, who runs a top fashion agency and modelling school here, said people assumed it was Toya because she was well-known, had the same first name as Altantuya Shaaribuu and is about the same age.
“To make matters worse, newspapers and television networks in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore had also published her pictures while the Internet forums discussed her death,” said Bolormaa, a former top model in Asia.
She said the confusion sparked curiosity among the public, including the fashion and modelling fraternities here.
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Bolormaa: Said she had not heard of Altantuya Shaaribuu even though it had been widely reported she was a part-time model |
“I cried when I heard the news that she had died, She is one of my best students who made it big in Europe.”
However, she soon realised that it was not Toya. Some of her models had even called her to say that Toya was alive and well.
“They told me Toya is currently doing a photo shoot for a magazine in Paris,” she said.
Bolormaa said she would issue a statement to the local media here to clarify the rumours.
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Toya: People assumed she was the victim because she was well-known and had the same first name |
Asked about Altantuya Shaaribuu, Bolormaa said she had not heard of her even though it had been widely reported that Altantuya Shaaribuu was a part-time model.
“She is too short to be a model here in Mongolia. Our minimum requirement in terms of height is 175cm. I read that the dead girl was only 155cm.”
Meanwhile, pictures of a woman bearing a striking resemblance to Altantuya Shaaribuu, which were published in The Star on Saturday, are those of South Korean actress and pop singer Lee Hae Ryeon.
Readers have written and pointed out the South Korean actress-singer was also known to her fans as U-Nee.
An e-mail with the subject title Altantuya@Mongolia had been circulating stating that the pictures were that of the Mongolian woman.
Altantuya's father had also said that the pictures were not those of his daughter.
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