The appeal of two police action force personnel sentenced to death for murdering Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu has been put off to Oct 31 and Nov 1.
The case was originally fixed to be heard in the Court of Appeal on Aug 27 and 28.
DPP Manoj Kurup (below right) told Malaysiakini of the postponement after the case management today for the filing of additional grounds in the petition of appeal of one of the appellants, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri.
Counsel J Kuldeep Kumar appeared for Azilah.
Kuldeep had applied for the postponement, saying the dates were not suitable as it was right after Hari Raya Aidilfitri and also, he and co-counsel Hazman Ahmad had to file additional grounds in Azilah's petition.
Hari Raya is expected to fall on Aug 19 and 20. If the new date is to be Oct 31, this, too, would not be suitable, Kuldeep said, as it would be right after the Hari Raya Haji, which is expected to be on Oct 26.
The appeal has triggered a lot of speculation, seen also as an indicator of when the 13th general election will be called as Altantuya's murder has been tied with the Scorpene submarine purchase, which was sealed in 2002, during Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's cabinet term as defence minister.
Suaram has filed legal action in Paris, France, on kickbacks paid in the purchase of the Scorpene submarine by Malaysia and it was reported last year that Najib may be subpoenaed to testify in the case.
It was also reported recently of there being links between Altantuya and the submarine purchase, despite earlier reports that she was never in France.
However, photographs of Altantuya in France that have since emerged suggest otherwise.
The appeal by Azilah and Sirul Azhar had initially been delayed because High Court judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin had not provided his written judgment – which was finally produced in March this year.
By Hafiz Yatim
hoping the truth will be out ASAP.. the late altantuya please helping those people who want to help investigate the cases give peace to you.
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