The sensational Malaysian trial of the murder of Mongolian model
has seemingly come to an end, but controversies will continue
to haunt the new Malaysian Prime Minister for the
implications involved.
Will the final justice be seen with the verdict of
death by hanging being sentenced on the two accused Policemen ?
Or will some scape-goat prisoners on death row take-over the
place of these two Policemen who were from the Special
Elite Squad assigned to protect the Government Ministers ?
It is surprising that the faces of these two Policemen from the
Special Elite Squad have remained totally wrapped up throughout
their public appearance on the way to the Courts.
SHAH ALAM: Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri,32, and
Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36, were found guilty and sentenced to
death for the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu three
years ago.
Judge Datuk Mohd Zaki Md Yasin said that the two had failed to
cast any doubt on the prosecution's case and that they only blamed
each other.
He said that he had analysed and tested all submissions by all
the parties.
Azilah, 33, is represented by two counsels, Datuk Hazman Ahmad
and J. Kuldeep Kumar while Sirul Azhar, 37, who is represented by
Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin, Hasnal Redzua Marican and Ahmad Zaidi
Zainal.
In the high profile trial that hogged the local and
international media, the duo were charged with murdering Altantuya,
who was 28 then, between Lot 12843 and Lot 16735 Mukim Bukit Raja
near here, between 10 pm, Oct 19 and 1 am, Oct 20, 2006.
Initially they were tried together with the Executive Director
of Malaysian Strategic Research Centre (MSRC), Abdul Razak Abdullah
Baginda, 48, who was charged with conspiring in the murder of
Altantuya.
However on Oct 31, 2008, the political analyst walked out a free
man after the court found that the prosecution had failed to
furnish proof on an important element on the conspiracy charge.
Abdul Razak since has left to United Kingdom and is said to be
taking up PhD at Oxford University.
While Azilah and Sirul Azhar who pleaded not guilty are hoping
to be released, the prosecution is going all out to prove they are
the ones behind Altantuya's murder and the disposal of her remains
using explosives.
The prosecution team consisting of Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun
Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah, Noorin Badaruddin, Manoj Kurup and Hanim
Rashid stressed in their submissions that Azilah and Sirul Azhar
are the people behind Altantuya's murder.
Based on the evidence gathered from prosecution witnesses, the
explosive used to blow up Altantuya's body was probably placed in
her mouth.
Manoj noted at the end of the prosecution's case that both
accused had the motive to kill and it was a preplanned crime.
Manoj noted that several circumstantial evidence that the
prosecution tried to prove were never denied, explained or answered
by both defendants.
"Several of the strong evidence deduced from the testimonies
when spun together will make two ropes that are strong enough to
hang each one of them.
"The prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt on the
actions of the duo calls for their conviction on the murder carried
out with the common intention," he had said.
Azilah who started his testimony on Jan 15 stated that he had no
motive to kill or destroy the woman and instead he only met
Altantuya to advise her politely not to harass Abdul Razak or
create a ruckus outside the latter's home.
Azilah also told the court that he was ordered by a superior,
DSP Musa Safri to help Abdul Razak and thus he would not have done
something stupid like killing and what more when he was a
policeman.
While defending himself Sirul Azhar broke down a few times and
related to the court that he has been made the 'sacrificial lamb'
in the murder.
The case has set many records including being the most number of
days for hearing (159 days) and 84 witnesses at the prosecution
stage and two at the defence stage, and it remained the high
profile case for almost two years before Abdul Razak was
released.
According to records, Azilah has been incarcerated at the Sungai
Buloh Prison for 891 days while Sirul Azhar 895 days.
While there are many conspiracy theories still going around, the
verdict on Sirul Azhar and Azilah may put to an end many of these
theories.
Following report from ChannelnewsAsia:
Malaysian policemen to hang for killing Mongolian
woman
Posted: 09 April 2009
1030 hrs
KUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysian policemen were sentenced to
death Thursday for the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya
Shaariibuu, in a sensational case the opposition has tried to link
with new Premier Najib Razak.
Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of Najib who was sworn in as
prime minister last week, has been acquitted of abetting the 2006
slaying of the 28-year-old who he admitted having an affair
with.
Her body was blown up with military-grade explosives in a jungle
clearing.
The two officers charged with the murder, Chief Inspector Azilah
Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, are from an elite unit that
guards the prime minister and deputy prime minister.
"Each of them are blaming the other, they failed to raise
reasonable doubt against the prosecution's case. I convict both of
you as charged," said Shah Alam High Court judge Zaki Mohamad
Yasin.
The death penalty is carried out by hanging in Malaysia.
The pair looked calm when the sentence was handed down, and then
stepped out of the dock and hugged their lawyers.
Malaysia's top blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin has been charged with
sedition after repeatedly linking Najib and his wife to the murder
on his popular website Malaysia Today.
Najib has vehemently denied any involvement in the killing and said
he never even met Altantuya, but despite any evidence linking him
to the case, the allegations persist and the opposition has called
for an official inquiry.
- AFP/yt