The Malaysian Murder That Just Won’t Go Away

The savage murder of pregnant Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu in Malaysia more than eight years ago has never been far from the headlines, a constant thorn in the side of Prime Minister Najib Razak and his first lady Rosmah Mansor.

Two former police commandos Corporal Sirul Azhar Uma and Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri have been sentenced to death over the 2006 murder. Former political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, a confidante of Najib, was charged with abetting Azilah, but was acquitted in 2008.

Najib and Rosmah might be forgiven for thinking that was where the matter should end but then the French government announced an inquiry into allegations of bribery in the sale of two locally made submarines to Malaysia, a deal that Altantuya worked on as a translator.

Complicating matters further is Australia. Sirul, 43, and Azilah, 38, had been freed on appeal in 2013, and Sirul fled to Australia. Last week, however, their appeal was overturned and the death penalty reinstated.

Importantly, Australian laws do not allow for extradition in cases where the penalty is death.

“Australia’s extradition legislation does not allow a person to be surrendered to another country for an offence punishable by death unless the country has given Australia an undertaking that the death penalty will not be carried out on the person,” an Australian official bluntly stated.

Altantuya was 26 when she brutally murdered. Her remains were destroyed by explosives, probably C4, on the outskirts of Shah Alam. In the court of public opinion Altantuya’s death was met with disgust amid persistent speculation and unsubstantiated allegations that others were involved.

Exactly what motivated two police officers to murder Altantuya and obliterate her remains has never been made quite clear, a tragedy for her family. Her father, Setev, has prepared a $30 million lawsuit against Abdul Razak, Azilah, Sirul and the government over his daughter’s death but this cannot be heard until the criminal case is concluded.

Malaysians are insisting they will proceed with Sirul’s extradition. Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told local media the Inspector-General of Police and Attorney-General was expected to raise the issue in the Australian courts if the Australian government refuses to send Sirul back.

“The Government strongly feels that Sirul should be extradited since he had been convicted by the Malaysian court of law. The Australian government should not interfere with the judiciary of Malaysia.

“We will exhaust all channels, including bringing the matter to the Australian court if we are not happy with their decision,” he said.

In 2011, Malaysian authorities deported French lawyer William Bourdon. He was representing a human rights group that made the initial allegations of corruption in the government’s $1.2 billion purchase of Scorpene submarines from French shipbuilder DCNS, a deal that was signed in 2002.

Allegations include payment of a $164 million fee to a Malaysian company called Perimekar that is linked to Abdul Razak in relation to the submarine purchase. Najib, defense minister at the time, and the Malaysian government have strongly denied all allegations.

Malaysia’s Immigration department had said that Bourdon was arrested after arriving at Kuala Lumpur international airport and that “Investigations by the Immigration Department revealed that Mr. Bourdon had violated the terms of his Social Visit Pass.”

It was a stunning move given the enormity of the issues surrounding the murder of Altantuya and allegations of bribery associated with the submarine deal approved by Najib. The murky details of that deal may well now get an airing in the Australian courts.