KUALA LUMPUR: The family of the late Altantuya Shaariibuu has urged the government to investigate allegations in an affidavit filed by former police commando Azilah Hadri, who was convicted of the Mongolian’s murder in 2006.
Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo, who is representing the family, said they are calling on the government to launch an inquiry into the allegations contained in Azilah’s affidavit, including the individuals that he named.
Sangeet said the affidavit was admitted into court records without objections from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC).
In Azilah’s affidavit, he implicated high-ranking government officials in ordering a covert operation to eliminate and dispose of Altantuya.
“The implications of these allegations directly challenge the integrity of our public institutions, particularly the police force.
“If proven true, these claims indicate the exploitation of state institutions for personal agendas by influential individuals, undermining public trust and damaging the nation’s international reputation.
“The government cannot afford to be seen as complicit in a cover-up of this magnitude,” Sangeet said in a statement yesterday.
She added that any perception of inaction or intentional suppression of the truth will damage the credibility of the administration and the nation’s standing in the eyes of its citizens and the international community.
She also said that a formal letter was sent to Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and copied to the Prime Minister and the AGC in October last year.
Altantuya’s family also urged the government to clarify the status of its efforts to ensure the extradition of Sirul Azhar Umar, who was also convicted of the murder, from Australia to face the legal consequences of his actions.
On Oct 10 last year, the Federal Court allowed Azilah’s review application on his death sentence and commuted it to 40 years in jail, effective from his date of arrest, and 12 strokes of the rotan.
Azilah and Sirul were convicted in 2009 for the murder of Altantuya in October 2006.
The conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2013. Both men walked out as free men for more than a year until the prosecution appealed the decision.
During the said time, Sirul had gone to Australia.
In 2015, the Federal Court upheld the High Court’s conviction and reinstated the death penalty on both men.
Sirul was later apprehended by Australian Immigration in January 2015 for overstaying, while Azilah has been in jail as a death row inmate since.
Azilah’s application for a review on his sentence came about following the establishment of the Mandatory Death Penalty Abolition Act 2023, which became effective on July 4 last year.
In the widely publicised case, Altantuya was abducted and murdered in Shah Alam. Her remains were blown up with explosives to dispose of her body.
